Tom Burke (priest)

For other people named Thomas Burke, see Thomas Burke (disambiguation).

Synge Street pupils, c.1941. Patrick (Thomas) Burke is pictured

Patrick Thomas Burke (1923 – 30 March 2008) was an Irish Carmelite priest, physicist and school teacher, and co-founder of the Young Scientist Exhibition.[1]

Burke was born 4 November 1923. He was educated in Synge Street Christian Brothers School in Dublin. He joined the Carmelites, and studied in University College Dublin, earning a Degree(1945), Masters(1947) and Doctorate(1949). He studied in Milltown Park earning a Theology degree and licentiate.[2] Ordained in 1951, he also gained a Higher Diploma in Education in 1953.

Burke taught Mathematics and Physics at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, before teaching Mathematics at Terenure College in Dublin, where he also served as Prior and Headmaster. He joined the Physics department at UCD.

He co-founded with Dr Tony Scott his former pupil in Terenure College the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 1965,[3] they came up with the idea while working in New Mexico in 1963. In 2007 they were awarded honorary doctorates by Dublin Institute of Technology in recognition of their promotion of science.[4]

Burke died on 30 March 2008.[5]

  1. ^ "Speech by President Michael D. Higgins at the 50th BT Young Scientist of the Year Exhibition RDS Dublin". www.president.ie. 8 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Rev Patrick Thomas Burke". www.carmelites.ie.
  3. ^ "Young Scientist Exhibition History". Archived from the original on 24 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Rev Dr Tom Burke and Dr Tony Scott conferred with Honorary Doctorates for inspiring thousands of young Irish scientists - 2007". Graduation Dublin Institute of Technology.
  5. ^ "Committed Educator and Young Scientist Exhibition Founder". The Irish Times. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2022. (subscription required)