Honorary Citation by Professor Thea Hennessy for Simon Coveney
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.
Simon was born in Cork city and, as us Corkonians know, that’s already a head start in life! He was one of seven children in a household where public service was not so much a career as a family tradition. His father, Hugh was a Fine Gael TD and cabinet minister; his mother, Pauline, (who is with us today) has been described as the anchor of the family.
Simon’s early childhood was spent in Cork city, before the family moved to a farm in Minane Bridge. It was there, where the land meets the sea, Simon learned two rules that would shape his life. First, that hard work is the tide that carries us, and second that community is the anchor that grounds us.
After education at Clongowes College and UCC, he completed a Degree in Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College in Gloucestershire. According to himself, he remains a farmer at heart, a man who likes “to see things grow.”
Before politics, Simon spent time running the family farm and conquering the seas. At just 24, he captained a yacht on an around the world voyage with his brothers to raise funds for children affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
But as Simon learned, a single wave can alter the course of an entire voyage.
In 1998, while near the Galapagos islands, news came to the brothers that their father, Hugh, had tragically fallen to his death near Cork Harbour. It was a moment that changed Simon’s life. He returned home, took on the family tradition of public service, won his father’s seat in a by-election, and became the youngest TD in Dail Eireann.
And from there, what a voyage it has been!
Across 25 years, Simon has weathered every political storm serving as TD, MEP, Minister for Agriculture, Defence, Housing, Foreign Affairs, Tánaiste, and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael. Through all of these portfolios, he was known as a change-maker.
During his tenure as Minister for Agriculture, I had the privilege of working for Simon. His intellect, ability to recall detailed facts and figures, and his clear communication style impressed everyone he encountered. During Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, Simon led a major reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. He also launched Origin Green, a unique programme that has placed Ireland as a global leader in sustainable food systems today.
But perhaps his most compassionate act of service came as Minister for Defence. As thousands of desperate men, women, and children lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea, fleeing war in Syria and Libya, Simon launch the Irish Naval Service on a mission, rescuing over 17,000 migrants from the sea. When asked about it later, Simon said simply, “It was the right thing to do.”
No fanfare. No politics. Just humanity.
His greatest test came in 2017, when he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Brexit. Navigating the turbulent waters of Brexit, he earned a reputation not for theatrics or headlines, like some political figures of the day, but for being the steady hand at the helm when the storm struck. He worked tirelessly to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to prevent a hard border on this island. Diplomats from Brussels to Belfast praised him as “a bridge-builder — someone who knows when to speak softly and knows when to stand firm.”
During this period, he also charted a bold new course for Ireland’s global presence, launching Global Ireland, a strategy that doubled Ireland’s footprint in terms of embassies and secured Ireland a seat on the UN Security Council.
Beyond politics, there is the man himself; a sailor, a Munster rugby supporter and a family man. He is married to Ruth, and together they have three daughters. And a special welcome to Ruth, Beth, Jessica, and Annalise who are with us today. Simon is known to say that the hardest deals aren’t struck in Brussels or Westminster but by his daughters.
Ladies and Gentlemen, from farm fields to the high seas, from Cork to Brussels, Simon Coveney has carried himself with quiet dignity and unwavering purpose.
In an age of noise, he has been a voice of calm.
In a time of conflict, he has been a maker of peace.
In an era of division, he has built bridges, not walls.
Chancellor, it is fitting that today we honour not only the career, but the man himself, who has so many times guided our nation’s ship home to safe harbour.
It is my honour to present Simon Coveney for the award of Doctor of Laws,