Alumni Awards

Alumni Award Categories

The alumni award categories are: 

• Alumni Award for Arts, Literature and Celtic Studies
• Alumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Science
• Alumni Award for Business and Commerce
• Alumni Award for Engineering, Science and Technology
• Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy, and Society
• Alumni Award for Contribution to Sport 
• Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge
• Alumni Award for Emerging Leader – This award highlights the achievements of alumni within 15 years of graduation.

Criteria

The criteria are as follows:

1. An award will be made to a graduate or group of graduates of University of Galway who has/have made a significant contribution in their field and to the public good.

2. The Alumni Award nominees must demonstrate alignment with the University’s core values of respect in our actions, excellence in our work, openness in our outlook and sustainability in our approach.

Terms

Alumni award candidates do not need to be from a specific discipline to be nominated in a certain category. For example, a science graduate may be nominated for the Alumni Award for Business and Commerce. The awarding panel reserves the right to re-categorise nominated candidates. The decision of the panel is final.

Nominate a Graduate

Nominations can be made online here by alumni, university staff, and other individuals or organisations who may wish for the achievements of a graduate of NUI Galway to be recognised and celebrated. 

Closing Date
The closing date for receipt of nominations is November 30th, 2023.

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Arts, Literature and Celtic Studies

2023 - Ray Burke
2022 - Tom Kenny
2021 - Nicola Coughlan
2019 - Fiona Mitchell
2018 - Lisa Coen
2017 - Mike McCormack
2016 - Siobhán Ní Ghadhra
2015 - Dr Thomas Mitchell
2014 - Norah Gibbons 
2013 - Joyce McGreevy
2012 - Dr Marie Mullen
2011 - John Walshe
2010 - Gerard Donovan
2009 - Dr Brendan O’Connor
2008 - Julian Gough
2007 - Séan O’ Rourke
2006 - Dr Pat Wallace
2005 - John Coll
2004 - Dr Michael D. Higgins
2003 - Sean McGinley
2002 - Eddie Lenihan

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

2023 - Dr Dapo Odumeru
2022 - Dr Marie Healy
2021 - Dr Colm Henry
2019 - Dr Ronan Waldron
2018 - Professor Declan Sugrue
2017 - Dr Eileen Naughten
2016 - Professor Joe Murray
2015 - Dr Morgan O’Connell
2014 - Professor Ray Dolan
2013 - Professor Mary D’Alton
2012 - Professor Tim O’ Brien
2011 - Dr Brian Griffin
2010 - Professor Rose Anne Kenny
2009 - Professor Michael O’ Brien
2008 - Dr Frank J. Giles
2007 - Professor Patrick J. Gullane
2006 - Professor Donald P. McDonnell
2005 - Professor Orla Conneely
2004 - Professor Fred Given
2003 - Professor Maurice Manning
2002 - Professor Luke Clancy
2001 - Dr Jerry Cowley

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Business and Commerce

2023 - Jim Clarken
2022 - Ger Rabbette
2021 - Áine Ní Chonghaile
2019 - Dómhnal Slattery
2018 - Aedhmar Hynes
2017 - Tara McCarthy
2016 - Ruth Curran
2015 - Catriona O’Farrell
2014 - Dr Helen Ryan
2013 - Adrian Jones
2012 - Máire Whelan
2011 - Gabriel D’Arcy
2010 - Margaret Sweeney
2009 - Michael Higgins
2008 - Brian Joyce
2007 - Irial Finan
2006 - Maria Mahon
2005 - Declan Kelly
2004 - Dr Ronan Lambe
2003 - Pádraig Ó Céidigh
2002 - Hugh Friel
2001 - Michael Maloney

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Engineering, Science and Technology

2023 - Professor Oliver O'Reilly
2022 - Mark Butler
2021 - Professor Mark Costello
2019 - Dr John Lyons
2018 - Bernard McGuinness
2017 - Anne-Marie Farrell
2016 - Gearóid Faherty
2015 - Pearse Mee
2014 - Michael McNicholas
2013 - Hugh O’Donnell
2012 - Gerard Kilcommins
2011 - Mike Conroy
2010 - Dr Brian Moran
2009 - Finian O’ Sullivan
2008 - John Ryan
2007 - Patrick and Thomas Coffey
2006 - Noel Fogarty
2005 - Anne Butler
2004 - Tom Costello
2003 - John McGowan
2002 - Dr Áine Brazil
2001 - Eamon Corcoran

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy, and Society

2023 - Major General Maureen O'Brien
2022 - Mary-Ellen McGroarty
2021 - Antoinette Cunningham
2019 - Grainne McMorrow
2018 - Pat Rabbitte
2017 - Dr Tom Courtney
2016 - The Hon. Chief Justice Dr Mathilda Twomey
2015 - The Hon. Ms. Justice Carmel Stewart
2009 - Dr John Hegarty
2008 - Séamus Brennan 
2007 - Brian O’Donnell
2006 - The Hon. Ms. Justice Mary Faherty
2005 - Cardinal Wilfrid Napier
2004 - Dr Eamonn Hall
2003 - Seán O’hUiginn

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Contribution to Sport

2023 - Tony Regan
2022 - Aifric Keogh
2021 - John Prenty
2019 - Prof. Michael Molloy
2018 - Joe Connolly
2017 - Dr Deirdre Mongan & Dr Eoghan Clifford
2016 - Dr Paul Hession
2015 - Olive Loughnane
2011 - Colm Murray
2009 - Ciaran Fitzgerald
2008 - Joe McDonagh

Roll of Honour - Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge

2023 - Máirín Ní Ghadhra
2022 - Ré Ó Laighléis
2021 - Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha
2019 - Póilín Ní Chiaráin
2018 - Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh
2012 - Peadar Mac An Iomaire
2010 - Pádraig Ó hAoláin
2009 - Pádraig Ó Ceithearnaigh
2008 - Gráinne Seoige
2007 - Mairéad Ní Nuadháin
2006 - Máire Mhic Uidhir
2005 - Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh
2004 - Pádraigh Firtéar

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Emerging Leaders

2023 - Geraldine Lavelle
2022 - Catherine Ludden

Roll of Honour - Alumni Award for Science (Previous Category)

2014 - Professor Gerard Jennings
2013 - Dr Seamus Kavanagh
2012 - Professor Fergal O’ Gara
2011 - Dr Gerald Farrell
2010 - Dr Paul Duffy
2009 - Dr Catherine Caulfield
2008 - Dr Peter Heffernan
2007 - Dr Reg Shaw
2006 - Professor Frank Gannon
2005 - Professor Frank Imbusch
2004 - Professor Emer Colleran