The first female conductor at the Academy Awards, the founder of the Galway Advertiser and the man who spearheaded the global Covid-19 response are among 14 individuals who will be conferred with Honorary Degrees by NUI Galway in 2021.

Galway-born composer Eímear Noone made history at the Oscars last February when she led the orchestra which performed the music of composers shortlisted for Best Original Score.

Ronnie O'Gorman is the founder and owner of the Galway Advertiser. He is a renowned historian and key to the restoration of Coole Park/Thoor Ballylee and he has been at the heart of the development of Galway through his promotion of the west and the region culturally and historically.

Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has steered responses to lethal disease outbreaks around the world, including Covid-19, and worked in some of the world’s trouble spots, including Iraq where he was taken hostage.

Others included in NUI Galway’s 2021 Honorary Conferring span the world of arts, media, academia, healthcare and business.

The full list includes:

• Dick Byrne - Architect by profession and life-long contributor to the arts in Galway.
• Professor David Harper - Professor of Palaeontology at Durham University and leading international expert on palaeontology and evolution.
• Jean Kelly - Retired Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Saolta University Health Care Group, University Hospital Galway.
• Professor Hubert McDermott - Former Professor of English at NUI Galway and former Governing Authority member.
• Dr Martina Newell-McGloughlin - Director of International Biotechnology, University of California, Davis.
• Eímear Noone - Renowned musical conductor and composer.
• Máirtín O’Connor - Renowned traditional musician and composer.
• Ronnie O’Gorman - Founder and owner of Galway Advertiser.
• Mary O’Malley - Renowned poet and member of Aosdána.
• Evelyn O’Toole - Founder and CEO of Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS).
• Bob Quinn - Film-maker, director, photographer, writer, editor and member of Aosdána.
• Dr Mike Ryan - Executive Director, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organisation (WHO).                        
• Professor Jerome Sheahan - Retired statistician/mathematician, NUI Galway.
• Ailbhe Smyth - Irish academic and activist.

Speaking about the conferrals, President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history and those being honoured this year form a particularly distinguished group.

“Each one has made an excellent and distinctive contribution to public life, the betterment of society and the interests of humanity.

“NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to respect and recognise these exceptional individuals. Each of those we honour also have a special bond with our region - drawing on the unique experiences, strengths and challenges with which we as a University also engage – our values of Respect, Openness, Sustainability, and Excellence; our profile on human rights, and our emphasis on excellence, creativity and innovation. In honouring these exceptional individuals, we also signal what we value in areas that matter to us and to our society.”

The University aims to hold the Honorary Conferring ceremony next summer in line with public health guidelines.

-Ends

Céimithe Oinigh 2021 Fógartha ag OÉ Gaillimh

Tá an chéad stiúrthóir ban ag Gradaim Acadamh Ealaíon agus Eolaíochtaí na Scannán (Academy Awards), bunaitheoir an Galway Advertiser agus an fear a bhí i gceannas ar fhreagairt dhomhanda Covid-19 i measc na gceithre dhuine dhéag a mbronnfaidh OÉ Gaillimh Céimeanna Oinigh orthu in 2021.

Rinne an cumadóir Eímear Noone, a rugadh i nGaillimh, rud nach ndearnadh riamh cheana ag na Gradaim Oscar i mí Feabhra seo caite; ba í a bhí i mbun an cheolfhoireann a chas ceol na gcumadóirí a bhí ar an ngearrliosta don Scór Bunaidh is Fearr a stiúradh.

Is é Ronnie O’Gorman bunaitheoir agus úinéir an Galway Advertiser. Is staraí iomráiteach é agus bhí páirt lárnach aige in athchóiriú Pháirc na Cúile/Thúr Bhaile Uí Laoigh agus bhí sé i gcroílár fhorbairt na Gaillimhe leis an gcaoi ar chuir sé an iarthar agus an réigiún chun cinn go cultúrtha agus go stairiúil.

Ghlac Mike Ryan, stiúrthóir feidhmiúcháin na hEagraíochta Domhanda Sláinte (WHO), le dúshláin a bhain le ráigeanna galair mharfacha ar fud an domhain, lena n-áirítear Covid-19, agus d’oibrigh sé i gcuid de na háiteanna is mó dainseár ar domhan, lena n-áirítear an Iaráic áit ar tógadh é ina ghiall.

Cuimsítear saol na n-ealaíon, na meán, an saol acadúil, cúram sláinte agus gnó leis an gcuid eile de na daoine ar a mbronnfar Céim Oinigh 2021 de chuid OÉ Gaillimh.

Is é seo an liosta iomlán:

• Dick Byrne – Ailtire a chuireann go mór leis na healaíona i nGaillimh.    
• An tOllamh David Harper – Ollamh le Pailé-ointeolaíocht in Ollscoil Durham agus saineolaí idirnáisiúnta mór le rá ar phailé-ointeolaíocht agus ar éabhlóid.                                     
• Jean Kelly – Príomh-Stiúrthóir Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais ar scor, Grúpa Cúraim Sláinte Ollscoile Saolta, Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh.                                             
• An tOllamh Hubert McDermott – iarOllamh le Béarla in OÉ Gaillimh agus iarbhall d’Údarás na hOllscoile.                       
• An Dr Martina Newell-McGloughlin – Stiúrthóir International Biotechnology, Ollscoil California, Davis.
• Eímear Noone – Stiúrthóir agus cumadóir ceoil iomráiteach.                                       
• Máirtín O’Connor – Ceoltóir traidisiúnta agus cumadóir iomráiteach.                             
• Ronnie O’Gorman – Bunaitheoir agus úinéir an Galway Advertiser.                                
• Mary O’Malley – File iomráiteach agus ball d’Aosdána.                                            
• Evelyn O’Toole – Bunaitheoir agus Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS).
• Bob Quinn – Déantóir scannán, stiúrthóir, grianghrafadóir, scríbhneoir, eagarthóir agus ball d’Aosdána.
• An Dr Mike Ryan – Stiúrthóir Feidhmiúcháin, Clár Éigeandálaí Sláinte, an Eagraíocht Dhomhanda Sláinte (WHO).                                       
• An tOllamh Jerome Sheahan – Staitisteoir/matamaiticeoir ar scor, OÉ Gaillimh.
• Ailbhe Smyth – Acadóir agus gníomhaí Éireannach.                                                   

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh maidir leis na bronntaí: “Tá an t-ádh le OÉ Gaillimh céimithe oinigh den scoth a bheith aige in imeacht na mblianta agus is cinnte gur grúpa ar leith iad céimithe oinigh na bliana seo.

Tá a c(h)ion féin déanta ag gach céimí oinigh daoibh ar mhaithe leis an saol poiblí, le feabhas na sochaí agus le leas na daonnachta.

Tá an-áthas ar OÉ Gaillimh a bheith in ann meas agus aitheantas a thabhairt do na daoine eisceachtúla seo. Tá ceangal ar leith ag gach duine a bhfuilimid ag bronnadh onóir orthu lenár réigiún – ag tarraingt ar an taithí, na láidreachtaí agus na dúshláin uathúla a bhaineann linne mar Ollscoil chomh maith – ár luachanna, mar atá Meas, Oscailteacht, Inbhuanaitheacht, agus Barr Feabhais; ár bpróifíl maidir le cearta an duine, agus an bhéim a leagaimid ar bharr feabhais, ar chruthaitheacht agus ar nuálaíocht. Trí onóir a thabhairt do na daoine eisceachtúla seo, léirímid na luachanna atá againn i réimsí a bhfuil tábhacht leo dúinne agus don tsochaí ina mairimid”.

Tá rún ag an Ollscoil an Searmanas Bronnta Oinigh a reáchtáil an samhradh seo chugainn i gcomhréir leis na treoirlínte sláinte poiblí.

-Críoch-