Waldron, Austin
June 29, 2010A man of vision, whose educational legacy to the people of Carlow has been immense, the former CEO of County Carlow VEC Austin Waldron was laid to rest recently.
Austin (86) of Frederick Avenue, Carlow passed away in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Carlow on Thursday 17 June, following a brave battle with illness since earlier this year.
A popular, affable man, this was reflected in the huge crowds who attended his removal and funeral mass at Carlow Cathedral on the Saturday afternoon. For 54 years, the Mayo native was part and parcel of Carlow life, playing an influential role in the development of his adopted county. It is his contribution to education in the county that is immeasurable. He was devoted to vocational education but, in particular, Austin will also be remembered at the prime mover in bringing the Carlow Regional College (now the Institute of Technology Carlow) to the town in 1970.
Above all, however, Austin was a family man, a devoted husband to his wife Eithne and their children. In later life, he also became a much-loved grandfather. Austin and Eithne recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary and together shared a lifetime of happy memories, having met in University College Galway as students.
A native of Drumbane, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Austin was Carlow's second VEC chief executive officer and its longest serving CEO.
He attended UCG and then went on to UCD, being conferred with a B Ag Sc degree in 1947. In his youth, Austin was a talented Gaelic footballer and won a Sigerson Cup with UCG in 1946-1947, playing at left-corner forward in the final which was played in Belfast.
Austin was also a good boxer while at school and was nicknamed Dan, after Dan O'Mahony, who was a great boxer of the time.
He married Eithne in April 1955 and, having taught and been principal of a school in Belmullet for a year, was then appointed CEO of County Carlow VEC. The couple took the brave step of moving to Carlow, a county they knew little about, and set up home at 10 Frederick Avenue.
Austin was the youngest CEO in the country at that time, and his drive and commitment to the cause of education was of enormous benefit to Carlow. Throughout his long and distinguished professional teaching and administrative career within the Irish vocational education system, Austin Waldron proved himself a pioneer, a visionary and a man of action.
Austin championed the cause of Carlow to be the location for one of the new technical colleges opening up around the country. He even bought the site on the Kilkenny Road to entice the Department of Education to choose Carlow over near rivals Kilkenny. Such was his commitment to the project that when it opened in 1970, the college was named after him.
Over his 32 years as CEO, Austin also championed the cause of vocational schools within the county, and oversaw many school building projects, including Carlow Vocational School and Tullow Community School. He retired as CEO in 1988 but continued to have great interest in education in the county.
Austin always had a great love of shooting and fishing, while in retirement he enjoyed playing cards with a group of friends every week.
Austin also gave devoted service to Carlow Rotary Club, of which he was a founder member in 1986 and a past president. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, the Rotary Club organised a special celebratory dinner in his honour, attended by more than 200 guests, including Austin family and friends.
The This is Your Life-style celebration was interspersed with contributions from a number of people relating to all aspects of Austin's life, including family, education and Rotary. Humourously, the party was held just days before the 2004 smoking ban, so that lifelong smoker Austin could fully enjoy the festivities!
Glowing tributes were paid to Austin at his requiem Mass, while a guard of honour was observed by County Carlow VEC, including former CEOs.
Following Mass, the remains were taken to St Mary's Cemetery, Carlow.
Austin is survived by his wife Eithne, children Philip, Michael, Eithne and Austin, grandchildren, sisters Kitty and Sr Maureen (Presentation Sisters, Mullingar), relatives and many friends.
Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist
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