A Uachtarán na hOllscoile, a dhaoine uaisle agus a mhuintir na hOllscoile

President of UCC, Distinguished Guests, colleagues, graduates  

Maureen McLane hears voices and sees spirits in the air. Thanks to her poetry and prose, we too can share in her exceptional powers of sound and sight. And if that makes the work sound rather offputtingly grand, she also deploys a dizzingly diverse range of tonal registers and a deeply ironic sense of humour. Her voice has been described as landing ‘somewhere between teenage fangirl and Wordsworth professor’, which is a way of saying that Maureen’s McLane’s own vernacular and contemporary voice is inflected at every point by her ‘reading, teaching, writing and conversing about Anglophone poetries, 1750ish to now’ (her own, characteristically laconic, description).  

President, members of the university community, distinguished guests, and graduates, It is my great privilege to present to you today, a leader whose vision, innovation, and commitment have not only transformed a global technology company’s presence in Ireland, but has also helped shape the future of engineering talent and research in this country—Mr. Paul Kelleher, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm Ireland.

A Uachtarán na hOllscoile, a dhaoine uaisle agus a chairde go léir, President of UCC, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen and Graduate of the Class of 2025 

A uachtaráin na hollscoile, a leas-shainsailéir Ollscoil na hÉireann, a dhaoine uaisle agus a chairde uilig, is mór an phrimhléid domsa Seán Ó Sé a chur in aithne daoibh le haghaidh bronnadh céime oinigh  agus fáilte a fhearadh roimh a chlann agus a gharpháistí atá inár dteannta chun ceiliúradh le Seán ar an ócáid suntasach so. 

A Uachtaráin agus a chairde gaoil, Is mise Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh agus is mór agam bheith anseo inniu chun an tOllamh Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, file, a chur in bhur láthair. Cúis bróid dúinn gur alumna de chuid Choláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh í. Is féidir a ceangal leis an Ollscoil seo a rianadh siar go dtína hóige, nuair a bhí cónaí uirthi lena muintir i mBrú Uí Eoghanáin, an Honan Hostel. Ollamh le Gaeilge anseo ab ea a hathair, Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin, agus scríbhneoir ab ea a máthair, Eilís Dillon. Go deimhin, bhonn an Ollscoil céim dochtúireacht oinigh ar a máthair sa bhliain 1992.

A Leas-Sheánsailéar agus Uachtarán, mhuintir na hOllscoile agus a dhaoine uaisle,     

It is an honour to be invited to introduce today’s honorary graduand, the novelist, playwright, short story writer, performer and collaborator, Cónal Creedon.   

Next year RTÉ will celebrate 100 years of broadcasting in Ireland – the first radio broadcast was transmitted on 1st January 1926 and radio quickly became an important part of Irish life and culture. In spite of the many and ever expanding platforms presented to us now from every angle with every new technology imaginable, radio remains a constant companion for many of us.

A uachtarán na hollscoile, a shainsailéar, a dhaoine uaisle agus a chairde go léir, is an-onóir dom cúpla focal a rá faoi Sinéad de Buarca ar an ócáid suntasach seo. 

President of UCC, chancellor of the National University of Ireland, graduates, visitors and friends, it is an honour to provide the citation for Sinéad Burke for her honorary degree conferring today. 

President, members of faculty, graduates, and distinguished guests - It is a privilege to present to you a man whose life can be characterised as a blend of saltwater, soil, and statesmanship — Mr. Simon Coveney. 

A uachtarán na hollscoile, a shainsailéar, a dhaoine uaisle agus a chairde go léir, is an-onóir dom cúpla focal a rá faoi Risteárd Ó Liathán ar an ócáid suntasach seo.

President of UCC, chancellor of the National University of Ireland, graduates, visitors and friends, it is an honour to be invited to provide the citation for Dick Lehane for his honorary degree conferring.

President, Colleagues, graduates of University College Cork and distinguished guests, it is my honour to present Lily Collison for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medicine.  I am delighted to welcome Lily, Lily’s husband Denis, sister Gabrielle, dear friend Gerry Dundon and CEO of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Rachel Byrne to University College Cork on this momentous occasion.

A Uachtaráin, a chéimithe, a chuairteoirí, a dhaoine uaisle, agus a chairde go léir, is mór an onóir dom, agus tá an-áthas orm, a bheith tofa chun cúpla focal a rá faoi shaol agus éachtaí Mhicíl Ó Floinn ar an ócáid áthasach seo.

I’m delighted to welcome Dominic and his wife Eleanor, an accomplished international rowing coach in her own right, and their children, Niamh, Aoife, a double Olympian, Caoimhe, and Dominic Junior. 

Chancellor of the NUI, President, Colleagues and distinguished guests, it is my honour to present Dr Adi Roche for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Arts. 

I have had the pleasure of introducing Lord David Puttnam on several occasions and, given he is a person who has lived many lives with many careers, there is always something new to say. He is a very modest person, so I could embarrass him by telling you that his films have earned every international cinematic accolade in existence, that includes 31 BAFTAS, 10 Oscars, 13 Golden Globes, 9 Emmys, and a ‘little’ award called the Palme D'Or at Cannes.

Into the mouth of the fratricidal villain Claudius, Shakespeare put the lines: 

My words fly up; my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

It is both a pleasure and an honour to introduce Tomás McCarthy, an inspiring educator and renowned conductor and musical director. We also welcome Tomás’ wife Terry and their three children Cian, Maeve and Maria. 

President O Halloran I am pleased to present Anne O Leary for an honorary Doctorate Degree. 

President, graduates, visitors, friends, and colleagues, it is a very great honour for me, and I am thoroughly delighted to have been chosen to say a few words about the life and accomplishments of Leslie Buckley. The degree to be conferred on him, a Doctorate in Arts, Honoris Causa, is very well deserved, because of his philanthropic impact on society. 

A Uachtarán, a chéimithe, cuarteoiri, a dhaoine uaisle agus a cháirde go leir, is mór an onóir domsa é, agus tá an-athas orm, bheith tofa chun cúpla focail a rá anseo innu faoi saol agus eachtraií Jim Corr ar an ócáid athasach seo. Tá an céim a bronnfar air innu, Doctuir Ealaine, fíor-tuilte aige as ucht saol fada neamh-leithleasach i seribhís do muintir Corchaí, muintir na hÉireann agus fiú amháin, muintir an domhan ar fad.

A dhaoine uaisle, is mór an onóir domsa a bheith anseo inniu chun céim oinigh Maistir Ceoil a bhronnadh ar laoch Ceol Tradisiúnta na hÉireann, Bobby Gardiner.

A dhaoine uaisle, is mór an onóir domsa a bheith anseo inniu chun céim oinigh Dochtúir Ealaíne a bhronnadh ar Breandán Ó Laoghaire.

A Sheansailéir agus a mhuintir uilig na hOllscoile, Chancellor of the NUI, Registrar of the NUI, President of UCC, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

‘If one takes the path of success, then one ends up either successful or unsuccessful, there is no third alternative’.

These are the words of the Hungarian writer Imre Kertész - winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2002.

A dhaoine uaisle, is mór an onóir domsa a bheith anseo inniu chun céim oinigh Maistir Ceoil a bhronnadh ar laoch Ceol Tradisiúnta na hÉireann, Peadar Ó Riada.

Chancellor, President, Colleagues, Graduates and Guests,

Colin Hunt already has the credentials of Doctor having been awarded a PhD in Economics by Trinity College Dublin in 2007 but today we in University College Cork are delighted to bestow Colin, CEO of AIB PLC, this further academic accolade of an Honorary Doctorate from our beloved and esteemed institution where Colin completed his BComm in 1991 and Masters in Economics Science in 1992.

"Chancellor, President, Registrar, colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It is my great pleasure to introduce Mr Derek Mooney as nominee for an honorary doctoral degree in Science today.

Derek Mooney is one of Ireland's best-known and most highly decorated broadcasters. For the past 30 years, he has been leading the development of natural history radio broadcasting in Ireland.

"Chancellor, President, Colleagues, Graduates and Guests especially Eoin, Jack and Ana Ryan.

Cork and aviation are in Declan Ryan’s blood.

"President, Head of the College of Medicine & Health, Head of the Medical School, distinguished Faculty, and Class of 2022 Medical Graduates.

"Good morning.

Eoin O’Driscoll is a chartered engineer, a fellow of Engineers Ireland and a fellow and past president of the Irish Academy of Engineers. However, his engineering journey started back when he graduated from UCC with a 1st class honours degree in engineering in 1973 and he gained his masters of engineering science by research in 1975. Eoin’s masters thesis was concerned with computer simulation of electrical drives, at a time when the first PCs had yet to emerge and the year before Jobs and Wozniak appeared at the homebrew computer club in California.

"Good morning, it is my considerable honour to present to you our very distinguished graduand Dr France Córdova, a world leading scientist.

As you know, academics are driven by the core responsibilities to our students of teaching and research, with the important aim of equipping you with the skills you will need in your future careers.

"Louise O'Neill was born in 1985 and hails from the West cork town of Clonakilty. Louise grew up in Clon with her older sister Michelle and her Mum and Dad. Her Dad Michael is the third generation of his family to run the family business, the renowned butcher shop on Main Street. Her Mum Marie worked as an English teacher and on Louise's arrival focused her time and attention on raising her family.

Chancellor and Registrar of the National University of Ireland, Dr Maurice Manning and Dr Attracta Halpin, President of University College Cork, Professor John O’Halloran, my introducer and friend, Professor Louise Crowley, Faculty of the School of Law, graduates, ladies and gentlemen. I am very grateful to be awarded this Honorary Doctorate from the National University of Ireland through University College Cork, who have been so accommodating to me and my family in the lead up to this event, a testament to a university which truly values relationships.

"Chancellor, President, Registrar, distinguished guests, graduates, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to receive this honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland in the presence of my family and friends. In accepting the award, I gladly acknowledge that many people contributed to the achievements it recognises, some of whom are here today. In my address, I will briefly touch on three themes: fortune or chance; Cork; and China.

"Good afternoon,

I have the pleasure of introducing Mr Pat Ledwidge as nominee for an honorary doctoral degree in Arts at today’s conferring. The award recognises the multiple contributions by Pat in the various roles he has held during his professional career and which have allowed him to input in various ways to our community at local, national and international level.

"Don O’Leary was reared in Ballyphehane in Cork City, the eldest of 11 children. He has lived all his adult life in Fairhill on the north side of the city and has committed his life to helping the people of the northside – initially as a Cork city councillor, then as a youth worker and for the past fifteen years as Director of the Cork Life Centre.  

"I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to the National University of Ireland and in particular University College Cork for bestowing this great honour on me today. Thank you to NUI Chancellor Dr Maurice Manning, NUI Registrar Dr Attracta Halpin and UCC President Professor John O Halloran. I would like to extend my gratitude to the many members of UCC faculty those who are present and indeed those who are not that I am lucky enough to consider friends of mine and great supporters of the Cork Life Centre(special mention to Professor Ursula Kilkelly and Dr Sharon Lambert)

"A Sheansailéir, a Uachtaráin, a mhuintir na hOllscoile, ceimigh bhliain 2021, agus a dhaoine uaisle,  

It is entirely fitting, that on this day of celebration and conferring in a College of Medicine and Health, in a School of Nursing and Midwifery, that we celebrate and honour the extraordinary achievements and the incredible work of a woman that has undoubtedly made healthcare a far safer place- safer for both patients and clinicians.