UCC honours Ireland’s sporting legends

Leading Irish sportspeople have today been honoured by University College Cork in a special conferring ceremony

Leading Irish sportspeople have today been honoured by University College Cork in a special conferring ceremony

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UCC marks centenary of sport by recognising leading Irish sporting heroes.

 

Leading Irish sportspeople have today been honoured by University College Cork in a special conferring ceremony, which forms a key part of the University’s centenary of sport, UCC Sport 1911-2011.

In recognition of their distinction in sport, honorary doctorates of Arts were conferred upon Ireland and Munster rugby out half, Ronan O’Gara, former Ireland and Manchester United soccer player, Denis Irwin, Irish hurling legend and Kilkenny manager, Brian Cody, leading horse trainer in Ireland and the UK, Aidan O’Brien and one of the most honoured players in GAA history, Mary O’Connor.

The conferring ceremony was presided over by UCC President Michael Murphy, who addressed over 350 guests at this exceptional event on campus:

On behalf of UCC, I am delighted to acknowledge the absolute passion, dedication, skill and talent of the graduands today and to confer on them one of the university’s highest honours.

Sport has been the lifeblood of our university since its foundation, and the centenary celebrations not only acknowledge the legacy of sporting success here, but also aim to honour and inspire the current and future generations of University athletes and sports people.  The awards today recognise the magnificent sporting careers of Ronan O’Gara, Denis Irwin, Brian Cody, Mary O’Connor and Aidan O’Brien, and the inspiration that their sporting passion and success has provided on both a national and international stage.” 

Ireland’s sporting community was well-represented at the conferring ceremony at UCC, with several rugby players and managers, football stars and GAA representatives in attendance.  Sports media people including Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Tracy Piggott, Donal Lenihan, Finbarr McCarthy and Trevor Welch also participated in the ceremony, and each made dedicated commendations to the sports stars being conferred. 

A number of outstanding events and capital developments have already taken place to mark UCC’s centenary of sport, including the official opening of the newly extended Mardyke Pavilion, an international Olympic conference, the opening of the redeveloped Mardyke Arena and most recently the announcement of Elite Sports Scholarships.

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