About the author
Paddy Barry was born in Co. Westmeath in 1934 and his family moved to
Co. Cork five years later. After his secondary school education at Patrician
Academy, Mallow he studied at University College, Cork from 1952 to
1957, obtaining a degree of BSc in Mathematics and Mathematical Physics
in 1955 and the degree of MSc in 1957. He then did research in complex
analysis under the supervision of Professor W. K. Hayman, FRS, at
Imperial College of Science and Technology, London (1957–1959) for
which he was awarded the degree of PhD in 1960. He took first place in the
Entrance Scholarships Examination to University College, Cork in 1952
and was awarded a Travelling Studentship in Mathematical Science at the
National University of Ireland in 1957.
He was appointed Instructor in Mathematics at Stanford University,
California in 1959–1960. Returning to University College, Cork in 1960 he
made his career there, becoming Professor of Mathematics and Head of
His mathematical interests expanded in line with his extensive teaching
experience. As examiner for matriculation for many years he had to keep in
contact with the detail of secondary school mathematics and the present
book arose from that context, as it seeks to give a thorough account of the
geometry and trigonometry that is done, necessarily incompletely, at school.
Department in 1964. He has been Professor Emeritus of Mathematics there
from 1999 to date. He participated in the general administration of the
College, being a member of the Governing Body on a number occasions,
and was the first modern Vice-President of the College from 1975 to 1977.
He was also a member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland
from 1977 to 1982.
University College, Cork was upgraded to National University of Ireland,
Cork in 1997 and both titles are now used.