Professor Orla Feely, President of Engineers Ireland, delivered her Presidential Address on the topic of Saints, Scholars and Engineers: How engineering transformed a nation at Engineers Ireland's Headquarters on Thursday, 30 September 2021.

Overview

Ireland’s economic transformation over recent decades has been extraordinary in its scale, nature and impact.  Around thirty years passed from TK Whitaker’s 1958 Economic Development, laying the foundations for this transformation, to Intel’s bellwether decision in 1989 to locate in Ireland.  About the same amount of time has now passed since that Intel investment.  

Prof. Feely's Address considered the many factors that supported Ireland’s transformation through sectors such as technology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.  It also focused on the role of engineers and engineering.

Read a full transcript of the Presidential Address here.