AT THE END of October, as students at Dublin City University donned their gowns and caps and prepared to enter the Helix for their graduation ceremony, James O’Reilly was nervous.

At the age of 82, he was among the oldest graduates at the university – something noted by DCU’s president Daire Keogh in his address to graduates and their families in the theatre.

O’Reilly had already been to college and has a master’s degree in information systems to show for it. Before retirement, he worked in library information systems at RTÉ for a decade, and spent 30 years doing the same at the ESB before he left in the 90s to set up his own company. 

He remained interested in history and literature regardless of his work elsewhere. 

Seven years ago, his wife passed away and he fell into a deep depression. 

“My two sons persuaded me to do something to occupy myself, suggesting maybe a course. I researched and came up with this course,” he told The Journal, now with his BA in English and History. 

“I went for it, and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It occupied me.

“I wasn’t staring at blank walls all day or watching rubbish on television. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Despite the age difference between himself and his classmates, he became friends with a number of his fellow students. 

James shaking hands with DCU's president Daire Keogh as he graduated from the university. DCU DCU

The Dublin man also praised his lecturers and tutors, whom he said were “magnificent”. “They do a wonderful job,” he said.

Now with his BA in a humanities field, he’s taking a year out to mull over his options. His sons and several tutors suggested continuing with a PhD, but he feels it may be slightly too much of a commitment.

However, he hasn’t ruled out doing a related master’s and is researching it currently.

For others who may be considering going back to college, he said his advice would be to “think hard” about which subjects appeal to you 

“I’m speaking as a retired person so I’m in a different position: I’m not looking at the benefits to a career,” he said, but added that people should consider the level of work involved and make sure they can commit to the undertaking.

“But also I would advise not to be afraid of undertaking the task. We’re all capable – if I’m capable of it anybody is capable. It’s just applying yourself both the workload and gaining the knowledge to enjoy the subjects you’re doing.

“I mean, poetry in literature would be my weak area, and yet I’ve analysed the sixteenth century epic poem [Edmund] Spenser’s Faerie Queene.

“That’s the kind of growth you experience during the course.”