Colm Ó hEocha (/oʊˈhoʊkə/; 19 September 1926 – 19 May 1997)[1] was an Irish scientist and educationalist, who served as president of University College Galway and Chairman of the New Ireland Forum.
His father, Séamus Ó hEocha, known as An Fear Mór, was headmaster of the Irish-language college at An Rinn (Ring), and was known as a roving teacher of Irish for the Gaelic League.
He was subsequently awarded a scholarship which enabled him to continue his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he obtained his Ph.D.
Ó hEocha built up the Department of Biochemistry throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and was involved in attracting external research funding to the college.
[citation needed] Dr Ó hEocha retired as President of UCG on his 70th birthday in July 1996.