Patrick J. Prendergast FIEI, MRIA, FREng is an Irish engineer, specialised in bioengineering, who served as the 44th Provost of Trinity College Dublin from 2011 to 2021.

[2] He then studied at Trinity College Dublin as an undergraduate, from 1983, completing a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1987 and a PhD in 1991[1] titled Structural Analysis of the Artificial Hip Joint.

[1] Prendergast has published more than 200 articles and volumes, including on topics around medical engineering, such as tissue mechanobiology, and the design of implants.

The renovation of the magnificent Old Library of Trinity College, with a €25m contribution announced by government Minister Darragh O’Brien of Fianna Fail, is also going ahead.

[13] However, it is not known if a more a more controversial project to develop a new campus announced as Trinity East with the Grand Canal Innovation District will proceed.

[19] This idea, considered far-fetched at the time, was implemented by the new Taoiseach Micheál Martin, his main change in the new government formation.

Prendergast gave his last speech as Provost to Northern Ireland alumni advocating special measures for NI students not to pay the non-EU fee post-Brexit.

[24] The students’ final assessment of Prendergast was probably a good summary: “His trademark lack of regard for the on-the-ground effects of his decisions had a certain nobility to it.