After 28 years away, Prof Tony Wheatley is returning home.
The professor of physiology at the University of Otago medical school is leaving in July for a similar position at the National University of Ireland's Galway campus, just a three-hour drive from his home city of Cork.
He said on Friday he never expected to be able to work as an academic in Ireland, but that country's major input into education to foster its knowledge economy, allowing the building of two universities and the expansion of the other six since he left in 1981, had made it possible.
"I'm going to a new challenge . . . at a medical school which is expanding."
Prof Wheatley came to Dunedin in 1997 after periods in the UK, South Africa and Switzerland.
While he said he had enjoyed every minute of his time at Otago, particularly under the leadership of vice-chancellor Prof David Skegg, he was looking forward to working in his home country and being closer to family.
"My mother lives there, and my 67 first cousins."
Outside of his work, Prof Wheatley has been a long-time member of the Otago Irish Society and until recently was chairman of the Friends of Ireland - Otago group.
He has also been a staff representative on the university council since 2005.
A by-election will be held to fill his council position.
Nominations close on May 29 and the election will be held on July 17.
