September University of Galway marks more than 20 years celebrating graduates across the globe

University of Galway has announced the winners of the 2022 Alumni Awards to be presented at the 21^st Alumni Awards Gala Banquet on Friday October 21^st. 

The Alumni Awards recognise individual excellence and achievements among the University’s 120,000 graduates worldwide. The awardees are leaders who have demonstrated impact and excellence in their fields on a local, national and international level. 

Now in its 21st year, the Awards boasts an impressive roll call of more than 100 outstanding University alumni. Among the distinguished recipients of awards are President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, Gráinne Seoige, Aedhmar Hynes, Eamon Gilmore and Máire Whelan, Ciarán FitzGerald, Olive Loughnane, Marie Mullen and Nicola Coughlan. 

The winners of the eight awards to be presented at the Alumni Awards Gala Banquet 2022 are: 

• Tom Kenny, BSc 1966, Director of Kenny’s Bookshop and Art Gallery, Galway - Alumni Award for Arts, Literature & Celtic Studies, sponsored by Deloitte.  

• Aifric Keogh, BSc 2014, Irish Rowing’s first women’s Olympic Medal - Alumni Award for Contribution to Sport, sponsored by Bank of Ireland.

• Dr Marie Healy, MB BCh BAO 1982, Director of Critical Care and Divisional Director of the Surgical Directorate, Royal London Hospital - Alumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, sponsored by Medtronic.

• Mary-Ellen McGroarty, BA 1987, LLB 1993, LLM 2019 and Representative Country Director for the World Food Program, Afghanistan - Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy, and Society, sponsored by RDJ.  

• Mark Butler, BSc 1987, Executive VP - European Operations, R&D and Strategy, Merit Medical Systems Inc - Alumni Award for Engineering, Science and Technology.

• Ger Rabbette, BComm 1984, CEO of Uniphar PLC - Alumni Award for Business and Commerce, sponsored by Bank of Ireland.

• Ré Ó Laighléis, BA 1978, Writer, Director of An Scríobhlann - Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge. 

• Catherine Ludden, PhD 2014, Director of Operations for the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium - Alumni Award for Emerging Leaders (New for 2022) 

Speaking on the announcement, President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “At University of Galway we place a huge importance on being here for the public good and of living our values of respect, excellence, openness and sustainability. Along with that, we are a community and when we come to host great events like the University’s Alumni Awards, recognising people in our community speaks to those ideals. 

“All of those receiving awards in 2022 embody in diverse ways what we stand for as a university and are being recognised for their leadership and for the difference they are making in the and for the world. It is an honour for me and Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway to share in that difference. I am particularly pleased that we can recognise their endeavours and achievements in person this year after such a forced hiatus.”

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