2007 Press Releases
HONORARY CONFERRINGS 2007 - University College Cork
Five leading figures in the world of education, philanthropy, business
and literature will be honoured by the National University of Ireland
during a ceremony to confer honorary doctorates at University College
Cork on Friday, 8 June 2007. The traditional ceremony honours
individuals who have distinguished themselves nationally or
internationally, through their scholarship, creativity, public service
or contribution to social, cultural or economic life.
Ted Crosbie
Businessman
Thomas Edward Crosbie, known as Ted, was born into the family newspaper
dynasty on 30 April 1931, the only son in a family of four. Ted is the
great-grandson of the first Thomas Crosbie who took over the Cork
Examiner newspaper in 1872 on the death of his partner, John Francis
Maguire, its founder in 1841 and Nationalist MP in the British
Parliament. After Christian Brothers College, Ted studied for a science
degree at UCC, graduating in 1952. He then joined the family firm
and in his roles of Technical Director and Chief Executive, he
spearheaded the introduction of new technology to the Cork Examiner and
Evening Echo by changing from the traditional linotype "hot metal" to
the Web Offset process in 1976, giving the company the most modern
printing plant in Ireland, and landmark advances in technology and
computerisation in 1986 and 1994. Ted was the fourth generation of
Crosbies to manage the paper, along with his cousins, George and
Donal. Two members of the fifth generation - Ted's son, Tom and
George's son, Alan - are represented on the board of Examiner
Publications (Cork) Limited. Ted is a currently a director of Thomas
Crosbie Holdings Limited.
Richard Ford
American Novelist and short-story writer
Richard Ford (born 16 February 1944) is an American novelist and
short-story writer. His best-known works include the novels The
Sportswriter and its award-winning sequel Independence Day, and the
widely-anthologized collection of short stories Rock Springs. Ford's
latest novel The Lay of the Land (Knopf) was released on October 24,
2006.
Ford was born in Jackson, Missippi and received a BA from Michigan
State University and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing
from the University of California, Irvine in 1970. Ford published his
first novel, A Piece of My Heart, in 1976, and followed it with The
Ultimate Good Luck in 1981. The Sportswriter was named one of Time
magazine's five best books of 1986 and a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner
Award for Fiction.
In 1995, Ford's career reached its high point to date with the release
of Independence Day. The novel became the first ever to win both the
PEN/Faulkner Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Ford's recent works include
the short story collections Women with Men (1997) and A Multitude of
Sins (2002). The Lay of the Land (2006) continues (and according to
Ford ends) the series of novels featuring Frank Bascombe.
Loretta Brennan Glucksman
Philanthropist
A third generation Irish-American, Loretta Brennan Glucksman grew up in
an Irish community in Pennsylvania. She is a noted philanthropist
along with her late husband Lewis. She has served as Chairman of The
American Ireland Fund since 1995 and spearheaded the Fund's successful
"Hope & History" $100 million campaign.
She is Co-Chair of Glucksman Ireland House, the centre for Irish
Studies at New York University, which she and Lewis established in
1993. Mr & Mrs Glucksman also established the Glucksman Chair
of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen. 2004
saw the official opening of the Lewis Glucksman Gallery at University
College Cork. The Gallery is a wonderful new space for visual art
in Ireland.
She was appointed by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to the Board of the
Industrial Development Agency. She also serves on numerous other
boards on behalf of Trinity College, University College Cork and the
Royal College of Surgeons and serves on the board of The National
Gallery of Ireland.
Earlier in her career, Mrs Glucksman was a producer for news and public
affairs with PBS-TV. She was also a lecturer in
English literature at several universities.
Bertie Kelliher
Educator
Bartholomew Joseph Kelliher (Bertie) was born in Gneeveguilla,
Rathmore, Co. Kerry in 1935. On finishing secondary school in St
Brendan's College, Killarney, he studied at UCC and Maynooth graduating
with a BA in Irish and Latin and the Higher Diploma. His teaching
career spanned a number of schools from CBS Templemore, Co. Tipperary,
to Coláiste Criost Ri, Turner's Cross, and Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh,
Bishopstown, Cork where he was Principal from 1992-2000. He was
also a tutor in Roinn na Gaeilge, UCC for almost ten years.
Following retirement, he became Chairperson of Kerry Geneology Project
and Board of National Suicide Research Foundation. He also served
on the boards of Management of five schools and was involved in the
evaluation of submissions to the Ireland Fund and two Commissions for
the Department of Education.
Ted Murphy
Wine Historian
Ted Murphy has been engaged in the wine trade for all his working
life. Now retired, he has been researching and compiling
information for the last ten years which has resulted in his book A Kingdom of Wine.
A collector of wine related artefacts, he has amassed rare Irish glass
decanters and wine goblets as well as one of the earliest Greek
drinking vessels from 1500 BC.
He is Chairman and a founding member of The Ireland Funds WineGeese
Society and founder member of the Order of the Winegeese. He is also a
Commandeur d'Honneur de la Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc et des
Graves and a Chevalier de la Confrérie du Bretvin.
Ted Murphy's much anticipated book on the WineGeese was published in
June 2005. The book covers the history of Ireland's connection with
wine from earliest times and the significant contribution of Irish
missionaries in Europe to its viticultural development in the 6th-10th
centuries up to the present day.
Coined by the author, WineGeese is an evocative name, bringing to mind
a unique vinous tradition that reveals a cultural identity which has
long been the hidden jewel in the glittering crown of the Irish
diaspora. A Kingdom of Wine is their history and tribute.
449MMcS
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