"Our backs are to the wall, gentlemen. Our backs are to the wall", "What backs, President? and what wall?" This exchange goes back to a Saturday morning meeting in the early 1970s in the Board Room of Maynooth College. The President in question was Jeremiah Newman; the questioner was Matthew O'Donnell, who eventually became President himself. The meeting was a small one, preparing a submission to the Higher Education Authority for increased finances for Maynooth.
Matt knows a great deal about finance. He also knew a great deal about other things, such as carpentry, boatbuilding and sailing. These interests were, perhaps, unusual for a professor of philosophy. Yet Matt was a professor of philosophy in Maynooth for over 30 years, before he became President.
He had come as a student to Maynooth in 1950, the year before me, so we were together as students and staff members for 45 years. After his time as a student, he worked in Louvain and Edinburgh. His main scholarly interest was the work of David Hume. He returned to teach philosophy in Maynooth, and was described to me by one student (of mathematics) as the best teacher he ever had. He became dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, and held mercifully brief meetings - 25 minutes was the expected mean. He had the excellent habit of being well briefed on all topics on the agenda. Decisions were swiftly taken.
Waffle was not his way. At one meeting which was discussing college proceedings, an official observed that we should not "put the cart before the horse". Matt said: "That is not a normal manner of proceeding".
Such brusque remarks concealed a great reserve and shyness in his disposition. He was deeply attached to his family and relations. It was touching to be with him and to see a car drawing up and a young relation leaping out to greet him. He was an excellent President, a genuinely holy man, and an efficient but always kind administrator. He will be greatly missed.