Retirement takes place of Athlone man who was President of IT Sligo
Dr Brendan McCormack, a native of Bonavalley, Athlone, who served in recent years as President of IT Sligo, has retired from his role with the third level institute, which recently became a technological university.
Although he has not lived in the Midlands for many decades, Brendan retains a strong connection with Athlone, and his wife, Mary (nee Hardiman) is also a native of the town, hailing from Baylough.
Brendan retired on Wednesday, August 31, after 24 years of service which culminated with the institute of technology becoming Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo earlier this year.
Since 1998, he held key senior roles in the institute, including Head of School of Engineering (2001-2006), and Head of Academic Affairs (Registrar, 2006-2014).
He was President of IT Sligo from September 2016 until March 2022, before the formation of ATU in April this year, and he then served as Head of College for ATU Sligo.
Una Parsons, Head of Faculty of Engineering & Design at ATU Sligo, is succeeding him in the Head of College role.
Speaking at his recent retirement function, Brendan said: "It was truly a pleasure to work with you all. I very much enjoyed my 24 years here and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to lead this organisation for part of its life as an educational institution.
"As I hand over the Sligo baton I really believe ATU will grow and flourish in many new directions over the next decade and more."
In an interview with the Westmeath Independent last year, Brendan spoke about his Midlands roots.
He was one of four children born to Grainne and Donal McCormack. His father, a Wicklow native, was a first cousin of Joseph Mary Plunkett, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation.
Donal became an officer in the Army and his transfer from the Curragh to Athlone resulted in the family moving there when Brendan was three years old.
They initially lived in Glenavon Terrace, near the Bower, before moving to Dun Mhuire, Bonavalley. The site where Athlone RTC was established in 1970 was not very far from the home where Brendan grew up.
He was born needing an artificial leg, which would later help foster an interest in working on medical devices.
After attending boarding school, Brendan went to college in UCD, and from there began working in the area of bioengineering, or medical device, research.
In a statement issued today (Tuesday) the ATU Sligo community extended its gratitude to Dr Brendan McCormack for his years of service and wished him a long and healthy retirement.