Posted 10 September 2014
UCD honorary degrees for racehorse trainer and breeder, Jim Bolger and Irish engineer and businessman, Liam Connellan
Legendary trainer and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses, Jim Bolger has been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by University College Dublin.
Bolger has trained Group 1 winners in Europe and Asia including winners of classic races like Epsom and Irish Derby, the Oaks, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas. Uniquely he breeds many of the horses he trains. Last year, Dawn Approach, foaled at his breeding farm in County Wexford, won the 2,000 Guineas and was the highest rated three-year-old horse in the world. Perhaps his most remarkable feat among his many triumphs was winning the Irish Derby last year with Trading Leather; a horse bred by him, trained by him, whose sire was bred and trained by him, owned by his wife Jackie and ridden by his son-in-law Kevin.
Pictured at the conferring: Racehorse trainer and breeder, Jim Bolger
Pictured far right: Jim Bolger and
Dr Emmeline Hill, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science
“Jim’s extraordinary ability to operate and succeed at the highest level in both the highly competitive breeding and racing industries is unmatched by any single person,” said Dr Emmeline Hill, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, who read the citation at the conferring ceremony.
Jim Bolger now employs more than 120 people and trains over 200 horses each year. Since 1977 he has trained more than 2,500 winners and currently holds the record for the greatest number of flat race winners in a season.
Irish engineer and businessman, Liam Connellan awarded UCD Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by University College Dublin.
Liam Connellan was appointed Director General of the Confederation of Irish Industry (CII) in 1972. He led CII through transformational change as Director General for a 20 year period.This was a pivotal role and he made a seminal contribution to Irish Economic Development in this period. The CII, which later merged with the Federated Union Employers FUE to form IBEC, played a major role in representing business and industry on economic, trade and industry matters.
He subsequently became the first Chairman of the National Roads Authority on its establishment in 1994. As Chairman, he had a strategic role in advising and influencing the transport infrastructure policies such as the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
UCD Conferring ceremony and Honorary Conferring of a Degree of Doctor of Science to Liam Connellan. Pictured are from left: David Fitzpatrick, UCD College Principal, Prof. Andrew Deeks, President of UCD, Liam Connellan and Prof. Gerry Byrne, UCD College of Engineering and Architecture.
He served as President of the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) from 1995 to 1998. He was Chairman of the companies within the Veolia Environmental Group in Ireland from 1994 to 2011. He was a founding member of the Irish Academy of Engineering in 1997 and was elected President of this Academy in 2004.
"Liam Connellan is no ordinary engineer. Liam Connellan is no ordinary businessman. He is a passionate man. He is an inspirational engineer who puts genuine value on knowledge creation - on education, on research - on careful analysis. Liam Connellan’s place at the pinnacle of Irish Engineering and Business is secure – he is a national figurehead," said Professor Gerry Byrne, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, who read the citation at the conferring ceremony.
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
