MacFarland begins his professional career teaching at Repton School, Derbyshire, from 1876 to 1880, where he develops innovative teaching methods and founds a physics laboratory. In 1881, he becomes the first master of Ormond College, University of Melbourne, where he holds an influential position for over three decades. He is known for rigorous but fair discipline, encouragement of student self-governance, and exceptional leadership in both academic and pastoral care.
MacFarland actively contributes to broader educational governance, serving on committees for technical education, managing university finances, and later advancing to Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne in 1910. He resigns from Ormond College in 1913 to focus on university-wide administration. In 1918, he becomes Chancellor, a role he maintains until his death in 1935, overseeing expansion and reforms within the university.
MacFarland is deeply involved with the Presbyterian Church, managing finances, serving as elder, and supporting mission and educational initiatives. He serves as director and later chairman of the National Mutual Life Association from around 1905 until 1928, demonstrating notable administrative skill. He generously contributes to scholarships and the Presbyterian Church, leaving the bulk of his estate to charitable and educational causes.
MacFarland remains largely celibate, dedicating his life to education and church service. He maintains active recreational pursuits, including cycling, walking, golfing, and trout-fishing in New Zealand. Upon his death on July 22, 1935, in Melbourne, he is cremated, and his life is widely commemorated for its impact on education, church, and community service.
MacFarland’s legacy endures in Australian higher education through Ormond College, his contributions to university governance, and his philanthropic support of scholarships and church programs. He is remembered as a scholar, administrator, and community leader of exceptional integrity and vision.
Before entering politics, Cannon is a planning official for Galway City Council and Dublin City Council, as well as CEO and secretary of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust. In 2002, he is honoured as one of the Galway People of the Year.
Cannon is elected as Leader of the Progressive Democrats in April 2008. He is the first leader of the party to sit as a Senator while serving as leader. At his first press conference as party leader, he states that he believes “there was passion, commitment, talent and knowledge within the PDs’ ranks to stage a big comeback.”
However, after speculation increases that Noel Grealish, one of the two Progressive Democrat TDs, intends to leave the party, Cannon announces in September 2008 that a party conference will be held on November 8, 2008, at which he will recommend that the party disband. The delegates present at the conference vote 201–161 to agree with this recommendation.
On March 24, 2009, Cannon announces his decision to resign the leadership of the Progressive Democrats and joins Fine Gael the same day. At the 2011 Irish general election, he is one of two Fine Gael TDs elected in Galway East.
In 2019, in recognition of his work in education, Cannon is appointed as a UNICEF global champion for education. He is one of seven Generation Unlimited Champions who advocates worldwide for the development of UNICEF’s Gen U programme.
At the 2020 Irish general election, Cannon is elected to the second seat in Galway East. He continues to serve as a minister of state until the formation of a new government on June 27, 2020.
On March 19, 2024, Cannon announces that he will not contest the next general election, blaming a “toxicity in politics.”
Cannon is a musician and songwriter, and recently collaborated with Irish folk singer Seán Keane and others on songwriting projects. One of his co-compositions, “Nature’s Little Symphony,” is performed in Dublin by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra as part of the national Cruinniú celebrations on Easter Monday 2017. Both “Nature’s Little Symphony” and another of his compositions, “Gratitude,” are featured on the album Gratitude recorded by Keane and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in 2018. On the August 10, 2018, Cannon plays piano with Keane and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra as part of a sold-out performance at the National Concert Hall. In 2019, he composes “An Túr,” a short piano instrumental to celebrate the birthday of W. B. Yeats.
In 2021 Cannon is commissioned to compose the soundtrack to a poem by Emily Cullen as part of the national commemoration of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921.
In March 2024, Cannon begins presenting The Grey Lake Cafe, a radio show on Loughrea Community Radio featuring his own musical choices, and interviews with public figures who have a passion for music.
Cannon is also an avid cyclist and cycling safety advocate. He specialises in endurance cycling challenges and on June 19, 2021, he cycles Ireland end to end, a distance of 575 km, in 23 hours and 23 minutes, to raise money for charity.
On July 2, 2021, Cannon is involved in a road traffic collision and suffers serious injuries. On July 2, 2022 he marks the first anniversary of the incident by cycling 500 km around the border of County Galway. Marking the same date in 2023, he cycles 935 km (581 mi) in 56 hours, covering all 32 counties of the island of Ireland while fundraising for Hand In Hand, a charity that supports families challenged by childhood cancer.
seamus dubhghaill 