Anthony G. O'farrell

I was born in Dublin in 1947, and was educated by the Sacred Heart Sisters in Roscrea, the Sisters of Mercy in Templemore, and the Irish Christian Brothers in Templemore and Drimnagh Castle. I worked in the Irish Meteorological Service from 1964 to 1968. For most of that time I was a student of Mathematical Science at University College, Dublin, where I was particularly influenced by P.G. Gormley, who turned me decisively to analysis, particularly complex analysis. Resigning from the Meteorological Service to devote myself to Mathematics, I was further influenced by T.J. Laffey and E.C. Schlesinger, and decided to continue my studies in the United States.

At Brown University, my horizons were expanded by H. Federer, B.Harris, A. Browder, J. Wermer, my advisor B. Cole, W. Fulton and A. Landman, among others, and my subsequent work focussed mainly on algebraic and geometric aspects of real and complex analysis. In 1975, after two years at the University of California at Los Angeles, I was appointed Professor of Mathematics at Maynooth. I was elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 1980. While engaged in teaching, research and administration at Maynooth, I contributed to the mathematical and scientific community in Ireland and abroad, and visited research institutes and universities in Canada, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Spain, the UK and USA.

Now Professor Emeritus at Maynooth, I devote myself to research, writing and pro-bono activities, as well as a modicum of outdoor activity and cultural pursuits.

I am married, with three surviving children and seven grandchildren.