"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.