Returning to college at 78 was something that new graduate Tom Boyle wishes he had done 20 years earlier – and says if he can do it anyone can.
“It was niggling in my mind before I took up the courage to do it... I was determined to stick with it one way or another.”
SETU Graduate, Tom Boyle
As the second day of conferring ceremonies took place at South East Technological University's campus in Waterford, 82-year-old Tom Boyle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and Irish.
Tom, who is possibly Ireland’s oldest full-time undergraduate student, turned 82 last week, and was joined at the 10am ceremony on Thursday, 31 October by his wife Phyllis, his six daughters, son, and three grandchildren.
He shot to fame in 2016 when a video of his classmates singing happy birthday to him as he turned 79 went viral.
While studying in Waterford city he travelled to college each day from Ramsgrange, Co Wexford. Tom, who started his studies at SETU initially as a Law student made the move to Arts. He has previously said that his only regret is he didn’t return to college sooner. Returning to education is something that he wishes he had done 10 or 20 years ago.
Listen to Tom's interviews
Tom told Morning Ireland that he returned to education at the age of 78 because he wanted to achieve something. What was the experience of going back to college for Tom? “Marvellous, absolutely marvellous, everybody in SETU went out of their way to make me welcome.” Listen to the full interview here.
“It was niggling in my mind before I took up the courage to do it,” Tom told Jennifer Zamparelli on 2fm. He was never worried about being able to complete the course, he told Jennifer. “I was determined to stick with it one way or another,” he said. Listen to the full interview (33 mins 35 seconds in) here.
Tom also spoke to Beat’s Sunday Grill presenter Orla Rapple about why he chose to study Arts (Irish and English) and what he worked at over the years prior to his study. The full interview can be heard from (36 mins 50 seconds in).
