Padraic excelled in his academic endeavours: The President of UCD has led tributes to Sligo-born, Dr. Pádraic Conway, Vice-President for University Relations at Belfield, who died recently.

Dr. Hugh Brady said the entire UCD community was deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death of Dr Conway, who passed away after a three year long battle with cancer. "During his almost 15 years at UCD, Pádraic was a friend, colleague and mentor to so many of our staff, alumni and students," the President said. Born in John Street, Padraic attended Summerhill College from 1974 to 1979. He then went on to study French and Philosophy at University College Cork and subsequently Biblical and Theological studies at Trinity College Dublin.

His training was as a theologian, for which he had been elected a Trinity Scholar in 1988. Pádraic was always a proud Sligo man and often attributed many of his achievements, his views and his loyalties to his hometown. He had a keen interest in all sports, but Sligo GAA in particular. Pádraic served as President of the Friends of Sligo Football, Dublin in 2008. He also loved rugby and was immensely proud of having captained the Sligo Under-15 team of 1977. On leaving Trinity, Pádraic spent four years working with Andersen consulting (now Accenture) as a management consultant. It was a tribute to his adaptability and intellectual capability that he was, as a theology graduate, able to quickly and successfully work in the fields of computer technology, business process design and financial modelling. "His enormous capacity to enjoy the companionship of others, his interests in their lives and thoughts and his gift for repartee and anecdote made him a truly unique figure at UCD," Dr. Brady said. While he could be partisan in politics he was also fearless in making his views known on any subject, whether popular or unpopular, the UCD President added. "One of his central theological concerns was with 'table fellowship' with the result that he believed in sitting down to talk, " Dr. Brady said. The UCD President described Dr. Conway as "The master of the deadline" capable of working at lightning speed and with impressive results. Dr. Brady said his last academic venture, a conference on the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, encapsulated to much of his approach to learning.

"Always entertaining, sometimes combative, never boring, he embodied all of the features of Belfield, the academic, the sporting, the social and the political. "He will be sadly missed by his many friends and colleague," the UCD President said. Dr. Conway, who lived in Dundrum, passed away peacefully on October 5th. His removal was to UCD Church. Following Mass of the Resurrection, burial followed in Drumcliffe Cemetery. Pádraic is survived by his wife, Aine; daughter, Grace; mother, Maura; brothers Stephen and John; sister Mary; mother-in-law, Eithne; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, UCD colleagues and a large circle of friends.

(Text courtesy of Sligo Champion 23/10/12) Tweet

Most Read Stories