Honorary Conferrings
Most recent speeches
28 Mar 2025
Honorary Citation by Professor Geraldine Boylan for Lily Collison
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.
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26 Mar 2025
Honorary Citation by Professor Pádraig Cantillon-Murphy for Michael O'Flynn
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.
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11 Dec 2024
Honorary Citation by Dr Brian O'Flaherty for Dominic Casey
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.
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11 Dec 2024
Honorary Citation by Dr Ciara Chambers for Lord David Puttnam
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.
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Honorary Conferrings at University College Cork
The conferment of an honorary degree is one of the highest honours bestowed on and received by a person in Ireland.
Honorary graduates are selected carefully to recognise outstanding distinction in their chosen field including the arts, business, science, technology, sport and service to society.
At UCC, the day of the Honorary Conferrings’ ceremony is one of celebration and acknowledgement of extraordinary achievement - a day of great importance within the university’s calendar.
View our archive of honorary conferring speeches below.