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Honorary Degrees

University Awards - Honorary Degrees

Honorary Degrees are awarded to people who have distinction in the arts, science, or other field of scholarship or creativity.

Honorary Degrees 2008/09
Sept '08 José Valera Nuñez An educational visionary who has had a profound practical effect on education at all levels in teh Autonomous Region of Galicia in northern Spain Doctor of Laws
Sept '08 Professor Deirdre Curtin Graduate of UCD and holds chairs in both the University of Amsterdam Law Faculty and the School of Governance at the University of Utrecht. In 2007 she was awarded the Spinoza Prize by the Dutch Social Sciences Research Council, often refereed to as the Dutch Nobel prize
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Nov '08 Jim Quinn President, Tiffany & Co. - in recognition of his consistent support of the value of education, both in his native New York and internationally, through his membership of the North American Advisory Board of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Mar. '09 Dr Alasdair MacIntyre Leading comtemporary philosopher, whose influence has extended to economics, business, management and politics.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature
Apr '09 Javier Solana EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union - awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by University College Dublin in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the academy and public sphere.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '09 Richard A Lerner The world’s leading chemist working on the immune system, his discovery of combinatorial antibody libraries has revolutionised immunochemistry. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science
June '09 Dennis O'Driscoll Irish Poet Dennis O’Driscoll is the author of eight collections of poetry and three chapbooks, as well as numerous essays and reviews, many of them collected in his Troubled Thoughts, Majestic Dreams. His most recent work is Stepping Stones is an acclaimed collection of autobiographical interviews with Seamus Heaney. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature
June '09 Kieran McGowan Visionary who guided industrial development in Ireland. Former IDA Chief Executive whose iconic successes include the development of the IFSC and Intel’s commitment to establishing wafer fabrication facilities at Leixlip. Kieran McGowan was appointed first independent Chair of the UCD Governing Authority in 2004. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '09 John Joseph Collins World-renowned biblical scholar and historian of religion. UCD graduate, Professor Collins has made an invaluable contribution to the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and is the leading expert in the scholarly field of near-eastern apocalyptic writings.  Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature
June '09 Hilary M Weston Businesswoman and Canadian Public Representative, Dublin-born Hilary M Weston is a philanthropist whose dedication influences health research, cultural, community and peace projects. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature
June '09 Jack Kyle Legendary fly-half who motivated generations of players. Still widely regarded as Ireland’s greatest ever rugby player, Jack Kyle was the inspirational genius behind Ireland's Grand Slam triumph in 1948. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws

Honorary Degrees 2007/08
Nov '07 Dermot Desmond In recognition of his outstanding contribution to business innovation and enterprise in Ireland.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
       
Dec '07 Stephen Rea Actor - honorary Doctorate of Science 
Honorary Doctor of Literature
       
June '08 Olive Braiden Campaigner for legislative reforms in the areas of women’s rights for over 25 years
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '08 Des Geraghty Led Ireland’s largest trade union (SIPTU) during the period of greatest prosperity in the country’s history
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '08 Geraldine Kennedy  Editor of the Irish Times
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '08 Professor Stephen O’Rahilly  The key to breakthroughs in medical research is that step between the science and the treatment: - what is more commonly known as translational research.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science
June '08 Professor Ji Baocheng Responsible for significant achievements in education reform, not just within his own university, (Renmin University of China) but in the wider Chinese context.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '08 Professor Jürgen Huss Influenced silviculture throughout the world.  His research and teaching have influenced foresters in Europe, Latin America, and even here in Ireland where he has played an important role in influencing the Irish Government towards the sustainable development of the forestry sector.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science
June '08 Professor Xu Zhihong  Dedicated his life to research into plant development and plant biotechnology.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '08 Geoffrey Dean the first scientist to conclude from his medical studies that the causes of multiple sclerosis were both genetic and environmental
Honorary Doctorate of Science
June '08 Anthony Pilaro in recognition of his philanthropy, and in particular his contributions to Ireland.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
       
June '08 Eddie O'Connor Founder and Chief Executive of Airtricity Holdings Ltd. from 1997 to January 2008
Honorary Doctorate of Science

Honorary Degrees 2006/07
Sep '06 Timothy William Finchem Doctor of Laws
  Thomas Edward Lehman Doctor of Laws
  Kenneth Douglas Schofield Doctor of Laws
  Roger Matthew Warren Doctor of Laws
  Philip Weaver Doctor of Laws
  Ian Harold Woosman Doctor of Laws
     
Nov '06 Denis O'Brien For his exceptional achievements as one of Ireland’s leading businessmen and entrepreneurs
     
Dec '06 Ronnie Delany In recognition of his lifetime achievements which inspired and continue to inspire the Irish nation and Irish people worldwide
     
June '07 Milo O’Shea For his life’s work on the stage and screen, one of Ireland’s most successful actors
June '07 Alfred Brendel recognition of his outstanding contribution to musical performance
June '07 Professor Amartya Sen in recognition of his work on famine, human development theory, welfare economics, the underlying mechanisms of poverty, and political liberalism

Honorary Degrees 2005/06
June '06 Col Eileen Collins recognition of her achievement in becoming the first woman to pilot and command a NASA space shuttle and spend a total of 872 hours in space over four different missions. She was also recognised for the work she does in encouraging young people to choose careers in maths, science and engineering and to choose those subjects at school.
Honorary Doctor of Science
June '06 Anthony Cronin Anthony Cronin was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Literature in recognition of his work as a distinguished poet and author. He was cultural and artistic adviser to the former Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey and the founding member of Aosdána, of which he was made a Saoi in 2003.
Honorary Doctor of Literature
June '06 Peter Gleeson Peter Gleeson was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of his contribution to Irish business. As Chairman and CEO of Castle Knitwear he enhanced the company's commercial success in an extremely competitive climate. He served on the board of the Smurfit Group for two decades and is a committed philanthropist to medical and educational causes
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '06 Fr Michael Kelly SJ Michael Kelly was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of his work with Irish Aid in the development of its policy on HIV/AIDS in the education sector in Zambia and other African countries. His contribution to the complex subject of HIV/AIDS combines the highest standards of scholarship with compassion and courage.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '06 Paul Rusesabagina Paul Rusesabagina was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws for his humanitarian actions during the Rwandan genocide of 1994 when, as manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines, he sheltered over 1,268 Tutsis and moderate Hutus from being slaughtered by the Interahamwe militia. The film Hotel Rwanda is based on this story.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '06 José Saramago José Saramago was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Literature in recognition of his work as an author. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998 and has also written poetry, essays, plays and a journal. Born in Portugal, he was educated as a technician and had several manual jobs before devoting himself to writing in 1979 when he won international acclaim in his mid-fifties.
Honorary Doctor of Literature

Honorary Degrees 2004/05
For their exceptional contribution to global society
October '04 Donald R. Keough Doctor of Laws
June '05 Bob Geldof Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '05 Robert Gallo Degree of Doctor of Science
June '05 Neil Jordan Degree of Doctor of Literature
June '05 Carole Pateman Degree of Doctor of Literature

November '04: 150th Anniversary Celebrations - Honorary Degrees
Recognised for their exceptional contribution to Irish society and their impact on the world stage the following people received honorary degrees:
The Arts
Michael Flatley
Dancer and entrepreneur
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Imogen Stuart
Sculptor
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Eithne Healy
Chair of the National Theatre - The Abbey and supporter of the Arts
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Anne Madden 
Artist
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
 
Humanitarian action and philanthropy
Christina Noble
Founder of Children's Foundation in Vietnam and Mongolia
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Lochlann Quinn
Industrialist and philanthropist
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
 
Academic and learning excellence
Sir Derek Morris
Provost of Oriel College
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Professor Garret A.  FitzGerald
University of Pennsylvania: world expert in pharmacology of cardiovascular disorders
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science
Professor Dr Wolfgang Meid
Universitaet Innsbruck: international expert in classical linguistics and celtic languages
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Celtic Studies
Fr John Dardis SJ
Principal of the Jesuit Order in Ireland: advocate for refugees in Europe and Joycean scholar
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
 
Socio-economic and political impact
David Byrne
European Commissioner
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Bruce Morrison
Former US congressman, responsible for US Immigration Act 1990
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Dr Pearse Lyons
President of Alltech: scientist, innovator and entrepreneur.
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science
Charlie Bird
RTE journalist
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Niall O'Dowd
Editor, Irish Voice, Irish America Magazine, and role in peace process
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
 
Sport
Mick O'Dwyer
Former Kerry footballer
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Kevin Heffernan
Former Dublin footballer
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Willie John McBride
Former Irish and Lions rugby international
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Kevin Moran
International soccer and Manchester United player, former Dublin footballer
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws

Honorary Degrees 2002/03
June '03 Frank O'Kane Chairman and Chief, Executive of Mercury Holdings plc. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '03 Sr Anne MacEnearney Director of Nursing at St Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park in 1985. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group Ltd. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '03 Sr Margherita Rock founder member of the Mater Child Guidance Clinic, St Paul’s Hospital for Autistic Children, Beaumont and the VEC Diploma Course for Child Care Workers. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '03 Catherine Day Director General of Environment DG, European Commission Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '03 Angela Kerins Chief Executive of RehabCare and Director of Public Affairs and Group Development of Rehab Group Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
June '03 Dr John Nolan Registrar NUI Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws

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