August University of Galway welcomes graduates for Autumn Conferring

Sixteen people to receive Honorary Degrees from University during 2024

University of Galway this week welcomes more than 1,800 graduates, along with their families and friends, back to campus for Autumn Conferring ceremonies.

The celebrations take place from today, until Tuesday August 27th and include graduates who studied at all of the University’s four colleges.

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, University of Galway President, said: “I am always filled with great pride seeing our students celebrating their academic achievements with family and friends, bringing recognition of all their hard work and commitment over their years of study.

“This year, the Autumn Conferring ceremonies are especially poignant for me as they are my last as President of University of Galway. It has been a great honour to present students with their parchments and to be part of the celebrations of thousands of graduates. It is also a great privilege to be able to celebrate and recognise the achievements of those who we award honorary degrees – in total during 2024 there will be 16 such awards. 

“On behalf of our University, I want to offer each my heartiest congratulations to all our students, to all those who have graduated and to all those who receive honorary awards. I thank them all for being part of the community of University of Galway and I wish them all the very best for the future, in their careers and their personal lives.”

Over the course of 2024 University of Galway is recognising the extraordinary achievements of 16 people by awarding them Honorary Degrees.

Those being honoured during the Autumn Conferring in the coming days include:

• Gerry Kilcommins, former Vice President Global Operations at Medtronic - Doctor of Engineering
• Danny McCoy, chief executive officer of Ibec - Doctor of Economic Science
• Mary Bennett, former owner of iconic Galway retail outlet The Treasure Chest and founding member of the Galway City Business Association and the Galway Business and Professional Women's Network - Doctor of Economic Science
• John Davoren, farmer, co-director of Caherconnell Archaeology Field School, and owner of Caherconnell Fort Visitors Centre - Doctor of Science
• Professor Jerome Sheahan, retired statistician/mathematician at University of Galway - Doctor of Science

A further eleven people are to being awarded Honorary Degrees during Winter Conferring, which take places on campus in November:

• Rachael Blackmore MBE, National Hunt jockey - Doctor of Laws
• Tony Connelly, journalist and author, and Europe Editor for RTÉ News - Doctor of Literature
• Marina Fiddler and Tara Nic Dhiarmada, founders of MADRA – Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption - Doctor of Laws
• Keith Finnegan, broadcaster and former presenter of Galway Talks on Galway Bay FM - Doctor of Literature
• Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - Doctor of Laws
• Dolores Keane – internationally-renowned, traditional Irish folk singer - Doctor of Music
• Dr Éanna Ní Lamhna, botanist and entomologist, presenter and broadcaster - Doctor of Science
• Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) - Doctor of Laws
• Professor Paul Yock and Dr Joshua Makower, founders of Stanford Biodesign and supporters of establishment of BioInnovate Ireland - Doctor of Science

For more information on the conferring schedules visit https://www.universityofgalway.ie/conferring/.

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