Masters of their Arts

Recent honorary MA recipients Peter McElroy and Noel Doyle have served UCD in quite different ways 

Services Superintendent Peter McElroy 

Two long service members of staff were recently conferred with honorary MA degrees. Between them, Services Superintendent Peter McElroy and Manager of the Staff Common Room Noel Doyle have worked for some 62 years at UCD. 

Peter McElroy began his career in the University as a Porter in Newman House in May 1959, having come there straight from school. After five years in the Porter's Office he was promoted to Senior Porter and in 1969, was appointed Head Porter on the retirement of Paddy Keogh.  

"The position of Head Porter was a very respected job," he recalls. "You were expected to know everything about everything and were responsible for the operational management of various events such as registrations, conferrings, receptions, the social and cultural end of the College society, as well acting as a support unit for the Student Representative Council. You also had to be on duty during parties. It was 'front line' stuff." 

Registrations were very big affairs and in those pre-computer days all preparation work was done by hand, which meant that long lines of people waiting to register had to be properly controlled. 

And as far as Conferring receptions went, between 5-6,000 people attended and it was the job of the Porter’s Office to see that queues kept moving and everything ran like clockwork. That included a degree of temporary 'matchmaking'. "At that time  everyone went into the hall with a partner and you would have to find partners for some people at the last minute, which was a bit tricky at times." 

All conferees were greeted at the door by the President, having been introduced by a Master of Ceremonies. "It was strictly black tie in those days. Very formal, with a lot of pomp and ceremony, but it was all very good." 

There were two main College societies in Peter's early years, the L&H and the Law Society, and he recalls quite a few undergraduates who later made careers in the Diplomatic Corps and the Law Courts. 

Academic staff depended on the Porter's Office for supports including equipment - slides and overhead projectors, and managing accommodation. "Rooming was also very important in College life. You'd have to ensure there was no double booking, and that classes started in time. It kept you on your toes and of course it was almost a 24-hour job."

Some weeks his work hours could reach 80 hours but he so regarded his job that 'that was nothing'. "I wouldn't be bothered with a nine to five type of job. College life gave me the freedom of mobility and flexibility that I thrived on." In 1969 Peter finally moved out to Belfield which, he remembers, resembled a big building site at the time. 

With the growth of the campus, Security and Porters were amalgamated in 1979 to form a Services Department, and Peter was one of the three founder members of the new department. Its responsibilities include the safety of the 1,400 students resident in Belfield. A transport section in the Department also looks after the parking arrangements in Belfield, a major matter with over 4,000 cars passing through each day.  "Buildings and Services also has an input into exams, making sure everything is set up for them and that the services staff are available. Also, the distribution of all the exam scripts to all outside locations." 

Following his recent conferring, Peter says he now feels a complete part of the establishment, while still being in a position to enjoy it as he won't be retiring fully until 2005. 

Originally from Annacurra in Co Wicklow, UCD's Staff Common Room manager Noel Doyle arrived in Dublin in 1959 and served his apprenticeship in the bar business in Mooney's of Phibsborough and The Angler’s Rest, moving to Dundrum House as manager in 1968. 

When he came to UCD in 1985 as manager of the Common Room, he was the first full-time employee there, as previously the facility had been staffed by Student Club barmen. And things were somewhat different to his previous places of work. There was no standard bar, and he served his customers through a small hatch.  

"Everything had to be stored up over my head and to the side due to lack of space," he remembers. Noel was also the only Common Room barman, though since there was only a small trade in food then, overall the situation was relatively easily  managed.

But things have changed in recent years.

"Following renovations by the Common Room Committee, under the chairmanship of Moore McDowell - including the taking over of the Coffee Dock across the corridor - business increased substantially," he says. "There are now 1,000 Common Room members drawn from Belfield, Earlsfort Terrace, Blackrock, The Mater Hospital and St Vincent's university hospitals."  

With the additional demand have come new staff. Anne Mulhall looks after the Common Room and Marie Brennan helps out at lunchtimes. Like every good barman, Noel has a good memory for faces and can put names instantly to the majority of his customers. "While we have many regular customers, there are some who might only come in once or twice a year to attend a meeting on the campus. You mightn't see them again for another 12 months. 

"I have very pleasant memories of Common Room members, past and present. They include historian Owen Dudley Edwards who, after his retirement, came back regularly to meet his former colleagues."

Noel is very appreciative of getting his honorary MA degree, and a large contingent of family, and extended family members attended the conferring. "It's something I never expected and it's nice to be appreciated no matter what you do." 

Manager of Staff Common Room Noel Doyle