Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh will today complete his final full week of conferrings at NUI Galway following seven days in which he conferred over 4,000 students. His final conferring ceremony as President will take place in February 2008.

Dr Ó Muircheartaigh commented towards the end of the conferring ceremonies: "Meeting students and their families on graduation day is probably my favourite part of the job. It will stand out as the single most rewarding and memorable experience of my tenure, recognising as it does the achievement of each individual student".

The President calculates that during his period of office he will have conferred degrees and diplomas on over 40,000 graduands.

The annual autumn conferring ceremonies began at NUI Galway last Friday, 19 October when over 650 students from locations across the country were conferred, during the Adult and Continuing Education ceremonies, following completion of their certificate, diploma and degree courses.

Three Honorary MA Degrees and one Honorary MSc Degree were also awarded this week to Eric Elwood, for his contribution to Connacht Rugby; Tom Tuohy, for his contribution as coach to NUI Galway Boat Club; Tomás Ó Tuathail, for his contribution to community development and Irish language and culture promotion in his native Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo; and Alasdar Mac Cana, for his contribution of over 20 years in the practical training of scientists in the Department of Physics and in the Education Department of NUI Galway.

ENDS