Trio of Cork brothers take the right STEPS at MTU to an engineering career

A Cork trio of brothers are following in each others’ footsteps towards a career in engineering.

While some siblings are polar opposites, others can be carbon copies, and in the case of the O’Connor brothers, David, Alan, and Anthony, the similarities are undeniable.

The brothers all share an interest in engineering, which has led them to study the subject at Munster Technological University (MTU).

The eldest of the trio, David, is currently pursuing a degree in Structural Engineering as well as completing a summer work placement programme at PJ Hegarty on IDL expansion in Midleton.

Work placements

David spoke very highly of his experience at MTU, noting the lengths the university goes to to help students to secure their work placements.

He got his introduction to engineering in transition year through Engineers Ireland’s STEPS Engineering Your Future programme, which his younger brothers, Alan and Anthony, also completed.

The STEPS programme is designed to show school students the potential of engineering and the difference they can make when they pursue it.

Alan, who falls in the middle of the brotherly trio, recently completed his master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, having secured the Depuy Synthes scholarship for the programme based on his Leaving Certificate results.

Alan said that the support from lecturers at MTU was “second to none” and found the facilities to be outstanding, as he had access to a 3-D printer during his studies.

Graduate

He will be starting a graduate programme with Depuy Synthes this month.

The youngest brother, Anthony, decided to go down the Mechanical Engineering route, and also received the Depuy Synthes scholarship.

He said that he found the STEPS programme helped him to isolate which area of engineering to study.

“One of the major things you might face in engineering is what field you want to go into, be it chemical, civil, structural or mechanical,” said Anthony. “That was one of the main benefits I found out of Engineering Your Future.

“It really clarified the difference between each of the fields, [and] can kind of give you an idea if engineering is for you.”