Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. It is not important that he should mature as soon as a an apple tree or an oak. Shall he turn his spring into summer? If the condition of things which we were made for is not yet, what were any reality which we can substitute? We will not be shipwrecked on a vain reality. Shall we with pains erect a heaven of blue glass over ourselves, though when it is done we shall be sure to gaze still at the true ethereal heaven far above, as if the former were not? From Walden by Henry David Thoreau
a memorable exposure If only all students could. Hugh arrived in the school of architecture ready to explore a whole new world. He brought real anticipation, spirit and eagerness to learn. He wanted to explore and he wanted to experiment. He wanted to engage and he wanted to change. I taught Hugh throughout his first year and I experienced first hand his raw energy, his ambition, his ability to challenge, to listen and to take advice. That tutor student relationship was about much more, it ranged from Collins (Michael) to Leinster (Rugby), from Ghery (Frank) to Guinness (Arthur). His second and third year experiences brought highs and lows as does every course but thankfully Hugh always came to my messy office to have a chat, to give confession or to seek advice. Hugh made real friendships within this school and his influence continues with all of those who crossed his path. brian adams
I first encountered Hugh in First Year in 2001. He was in my tutor group along with the nineteen others all scrambling to claim a desk and establish a place in the First Year studio. I noticed him because he seemed to do this with minimal fuss. His desk was strategically located and he was immediately ready for action. He was ready for a day’s work or fun or whatever, but he was present and ready. It was a surprise to me the way he drew. Sometimes I think I know and can anticipate by seeing the person, but I got it wrong with Hugh. He could already draw and had a hand that expressed his thoughts and ideas and his pencil drawings indicated a different character to the outside bravado. They were sensitive and soft and articulate. In that first term we had a lot of weekly drawing projects that demanded quick attention and output and Hugh was thirsty for this. His study of the rudiments of architecture through analysis and drawing became predictably sure. The final project was the culmination of this work and the first design. On the day of the presentation he had the work done and dusted, pinned on the wall and was standing stock upright ready to do the first verbal presentation to the assessing tutors. It wasn’t quite the ride he or I expected.
He clashed with the other tutor and instead of listening to the criticism he defended his scheme vehemently as if it were a battle strategy that would turn the war. In the end I had to step in and tell him to retreat. His scheme had one flaw which was not major but to Hugh the other assessing tutor had missed the point. His ability to do what he wanted was clear to me from that day on and I think that is what he always did. After that term he moved to another group but I never lost contact with him and if he was really feeling disgruntled with someone else’s assessment of his design he would saunter pass for a second opinion. Still standing erect with his Irish Rugby shirt hanging out, the black dishevelled hair signalling plenty of action the night before, he was the same as during that first term and he remained his own man. It was good to meet him along the corridor even if he was always bragging about how better the Irish team was over the Australian Wallabies. He shocked me by his death. Those days of shock that I experienced last summer have gone now and all I can recall is that I’m very glad to have known him. He remains the outspoken cocky upstart brimming with forthrightness and health. David Sutherland
First Year - 20 01
Hugh’s opportunistic bike ride, Amsterdam
Netherlands
Delft Library
Educatorium, University of Utrecht
Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam
I met Hugh my first day in Dundee. He was the only other Irish person in my group so inevitably we got chatting. I think he was coming down from the highs of the Lions tour and didn’t know what to make of the place. A kind of love/hate relationship with Dundee continued for the duration of his time here. For the next four years he became a firm friend and flatmate. He was great at organising and planning things, bills, trips, sessions etc which I really appreciated, being the granny of the group, and could be relied on to do the right thing and help sort things out in his own precise way. Hugh had a self assuredness and confidence that could be energising to be around. He had this belief in himself and things he was involved in, sometimes to the point of stubbornness which drew you in and made you believe too. He made things happen‌..generated situations, got people going, kept us together. With this energy came a massive capacity for fun in every sense of the word. This book is littered with numerous drunken days and nights to prove but they don’t do him justice. As we all know, Hugh could always be relied upon to find a laugh in most situations, appropriate or otherwise and was a big messer generally.
There was also this restlessness about him that meant he was always doing something and already planning his next move and then looking five years down the line with it. Kind of ironic I suppose. Impossible to sum up what Hugh means to me. There’s so much to be taken from him and used. He came along at such an important time in my life and will remain a strong influence throughout. I can hear his voice and feel the space he would take up in a room and I hope I don’t ever forget that. Maybe this book will help to make sure that doesn’t happen. Audrey Fitzgerald
SecondYear - 2002
7.00pm
10.00pm
1.00am
2.30am
8.00am
Hugh’s horses, pig and pigeon
Millennium Bridge, Newcastle
Hugh vs The Italian Farmer
Valentines Day
Feeding Time at Top Left
www.scottishskinhead.com
I met Hugh at university, but it’s not just uni I associate him with. My first impressions were of his green Ireland top. He was one of a kind and nights out are not the same without him. Hugh made my first three years at uni a real experience. I will never forget. I shall remember him as a person of pride and someone who spoke his mind. He appreciated my jokes and would even laugh all those times I called him hugh jas. Dundee is different now and the space he has left can be clearly seen. I cannot say good bye therefore, I look forward to meeting you again and buying that pint I owe. Andrew Marshall
Paris
Da Vinci Williams
When I 1st got to know Hugh it was in 2nd term of 1st year, when I got moved into his tutor group and was unlucky enough to be the one who sat next 2 him. We had many of heated discussions about Leinster v Ulster and eventually he gave me the nickname Paddy ‘the dirty northerner’, I think this was because deep down he knew Ulster where the better team, and he felt a bit bitter. Our friendship grew, and on the architecture trip to Paris the following year was when we got up to the most mischief. Once we both got fed up looking at buildings we would head off on adventures around Paris 2 c what random things we could find. This was a mixture of going to see the stade de france where Hugh tried his best to talk french and blag a free tour around the stadium, but the security guard was having none of it. So we settled for a nice cold glass of beer while admiring amazing stadium. Another adventure from paris which stands out was when we disappeared off again to see the eiffel tower in which we bumped into a handful of stunning spanish girls to Hugh’s delight. With an excited smile on his face he then proceeded to randomly speak spanish to try to chat them up but failed miserably in his attempts. I think he did manage to get his photo taken with them though, so he wasn’t too upset.
Hugh was always a good friend and we would always find ourselves sitting in mennies over a pint of erdiner complaing about how crap the architecture course was and how stressed we were. He would always put a positive slant on things no matter how bad things seemed and in the end we got through it. He would always be talking about his travels and spain (think that was something to do with those spanish girls.) And how great it was going to be when I finally played for Ireland. He always was a dreamer!!!! Hugh will always be a part of me and everytime Ulster beat Leinster I have a laugh and think how much it would be annoying him.
Paddy ‘The Dirty Northerner’
Stade de France
The Pompidou Centre
“ The French connection”
Villa Savoye, Paris
Third Year - 2003
Double Date
Bas el
Architecture Time
Giraffe Time
Boys are back in Basel
What a tool
Chapel at Ronchamp, France
Paddy’s Day
Something that struck me about Hugh was that he was such a ‘doer’. Dave Yeomans told me the other day one thing that he misses is Hugh’s words of encouragement to just go and do whatever it is that’s on his mind. Recalling his ‘illegal artist’ exhibition, Dave said that really it was Hugh that gave him the drive to follow up his early intentions. In second year Hugh had a great big map of Scotland on his wall and I remember we’d regularly look up at that map and talk about where we’d like to visit. Come Easter Hugh had bought himself a pair of hiking boots and was off walking the West Highland Way. I, on the other hand, still have the intentions.
I read a quote recently which said ‘Those with torches, hand them on’. If I’ve learned anything from Hugh it’s to stop wasting time talking about it and go and do whatever it is you want to do. Ken Scriven
The Ball
When looking back at photos of the last couple of years it seems unreal that Hugh is no longer with us. My memories of him and our shared experiences are a clear and vivid slide-show. Sometimes when I walk along a beach or when I’m sitting on a bus gazing out at the passing landscapes I feel that he might just be out there somewhere. Hugh was continually re-evaluating and questioning what he was doing or where he was going. Some days he would sit at the breakfast table with his huge map of Scotland looking to go somewhere new, and want head off as soon as possible. I loved this enthusiasm, energy and drive to get out there experience places and people. A few of the things I miss about Hugh are – his obsession for maps and bridges his tuna pasta muck, his rugby analysis, his continuous Yopp drinking, our chats about land-rovers and their accessories our shared dislike for cats (to Audrey’s annoyance) our long standing disagreement about Prestwick Airport His plans for running an Irish bar in Alicante His closemindedness regarding music His Kylie poster Sharing an avocado Doug
Hugh Stuff
School of Architecture
Hugh’s CD collection!
Calatrava, Seville
Sean O’Casey Bridge, Brian O’Halloran Associates, Dublin
Forth Rail Bridge
Mennies, Perth Road
The Fisherman’s, Broughty Ferry
It was morning, and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea. A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water, and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air, till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food. It was another busy day beginning. But way off alone, out by himself beyond boat and shore, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was practicing. A hundred feet in the sky he lowered his webbed feet, lifted his beak, and strained to hold a painful hard twisted curve through his wings. The curve meant that he would fly slowly, and now he slowed until the wind was a whisper in his face, until the ocean stood still beneath him. He narrowed his eyes in fierce concentration, held his breath, forced one ... single ... more ... inch ... of ... curve .... Then his feathers ruffled, he stalled and fell.
From Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach