November NUI Galway Winter Conferral Ceremonies and Honorary Degree Recipients

Dr Clare O’Leary, Phelim Murphy, Bernie O’Connor, Martin Hayes

Over 1,800 students will graduate from across the five colleges at NUI Galway at the University's winter conferring ceremonies, which take place from Tuesday, 20 November to Thursday, 22 November. NUI Galway has also today announced the names of those to be conferred with Honorary Degrees at the 2018 Winter Conferring.

The four individuals to be conferred during the week of 19 November are: 

• Dr Clare O'Leary - Consultant Gastroenterologist and an accomplished adventurer with a special interest in high altitude and expedition medicine
• Phelim Murphy – long serving GAA county and club administrator
• Bernie O’Connor - long serving GAA county and club administrator
• Martin Hayes - internationally-recognised traditional Irish musician

Speaking on the announcement, NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history and those being honoured at these conferring ceremonies form a particularly distinguished group. Each one has made an outstanding and distinctive contribution in their field. In honouring these exceptional individuals, we signal what we value in areas that matter to us and to our society – the role of sport and volunteering in rural communities, creativity and music, path-breaking women in sport. NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to recognise these exceptional individuals.  Their achievements speak to some of the activities in which we as a University are engaged – community development, culture and performance, and sporting endeavour. On behalf of NUI Galway I am delighted to honour them and their achievements in this way.”

Dr Clare O’Leary – Irish gastroenterologist, mountain climber and adventurer. First Irish woman to climb Mount Everest and complete the Seven Summits. Also first Irish woman to reach the South Pole. Patron of Cork University Hospital Charity. Works as a gastroenterologist and general physician.

Phelim Murphy and Bernie O’Connor - Both synonymous with Galway hurling for many decades, at Club and County level and pivotal figures in the development of the GAA. 

Phelim Murphy – Chairman of Turloughmore Hurling Club, and member of Galway Hurling Board for many years. Former Assistant Secretary of Galway Hurling Board, Secretary, Team Selector, President of Connacht Council, Vice-President of GAA.

Bernie O’Connor – life-long GAA colleague and friend of Phelim. Member of Oranmore/Maree Club. Served at county, provincial and national level on Hurling Development, Games Administration and Management committees. Manager of Galway Senior team in 1983, team selector of All-Ireland winning teams 1980, 1987 and 1988. 

Martin Hayes - Renowned Irish fiddler from Co Clare and member of the Irish-American supergroup The Gloaming. Winner of the All-Ireland fiddle competition – one of only three fiddlers to be named All-Ireland Fiddle Champion in the senior division in two consecutive years. Member of Tulla Céilí Band. Active in traditional music scene in the U.S. and internationally. Winner of many awards, including TG4 Gradam Ceoil.

The conferring ceremonies will take place at 10.30am and 3pm each day.

-Ends-

Searmanais Bronnta Geimhridh OÉ Gaillimh agus Céimithe Oinigh

An Dr Clare O’Leary, Phelim Murphy, Bernie O’Connor, Martin Hayes

Bronnfar céim ar bhreis is 1,800 mac léinn as na cúig choláiste in OÉ Gaillimh ag searmanais bhronnta an gheimhridh a bheidh ar siúl san Ollscoil ó Dé Máirt, an 20 Samhain go dtí Déardaoin, an 22 Samhain. Inniu d’fhógair OÉ Gaillimh ainmneacha na ndaoine a mbronnfar Céimeanna Oinigh orthu ag Bronnadh an Fhómhair, 2018.

Seo a leanas ainmneacha an cheathrair a mbronnfar céim orthu an tseachtain dar tús an 19 Samhain: 

• An Dr Clare Murphy - Gaistreintreolaí Comhairleach agus taiscéalaí cumasach le spéis ar leith i leigheas a bhaineann le hairde mhór agus le turais taiscéalaíochta.
• Phelim Murphy - a bhfuil na blianta caite aige mar riarthóir contae agus club CLG
• Bernie O'Connor - a bhfuil na blianta caite aige mar riarthóir contae agus club CLG
• Martin Hayes - ceoltóir traidisiúnta a bhfuil cáil dhomhanda air

Ag labhairt dó faoin bhfógra, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “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 na céimithe oinigh atá á gceiliúradh ag na searmanais bhronnta seo. Tá a c(h)ion féin déanta ag gach céimí oinigh daoibh ina réimse féin. 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 - ról an spóirt i bpobail tuaithe, cruthaitheacht agus ceol, mná ceannródaíocha i spórt. Tá an-áthas ar OÉ Gaillimh a bheith in ann aitheantas a thabhairt do na daoine eisceachtúla seo. Léiríonn a gcuid éachtaí roinnt de na gníomhaíochtaí ina bhfuilimid mar Ollscoil páirteach iontu – forbairt pobail, cultúr agus taibhléiriú, agus éachtaí spóirt. Thar ceann OÉ Gaillimh tá áthas orm onóir a bhronnadh orthu as a gcuid éachtaí.”

An Dr Clare O’Leary – gaistreintreolaí, dreapadóir sléibhe agus taiscéalaí Éireannach.  An chéad bhean Éireannach a dhreap Sliabh Everest agus na Seacht Mullach.  Ba í an chéad bhean Éireannach í chomh maith a bhain amach an Pol Theas. Tá sí ina pátrún ar Charthanacht Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Corcaigh. Is gaistreintreolaí agus lia ginearálta í.

Phelim Murphy agus Bernie O'Connor - Tá an bheirt fhear seo luaite le hiománaíocht na Gaillimhe le blianta fada, ag leibhéal Club agus Contae, agus is pearsana an-tábhachtach iad i bhforbairt an CLG. 

Phelim Murphy – Cathaoirleach Chlub Iománaíochta an Turlaigh Mhóir agus ball de Bhord Iománaíochta na Gaillimhe le blianta fada.  Iar-Rúnaí Cúnta ar Bhord Iománaíochta na Gaillimhe, Rúnaí, Roghnóir, Uachtarán Chomhairle Connacht, Leas-Uachtarán CLG.

Bernie O’Connor – comhghleacaí GLG agus cara buan le Phelim.  Ball de Chlub Órán Mór/Mheáraí.  D’oibrigh sé ar leibhéal contae, cúige agus náisiúnta ar Fhorbairt Iománaíochta, Riarachán Cluichí agus Coistí Bainistíochta.  Bainisteoir ar Fhoireann Sinsir na Gaillimhe in 1983, roghnóir ar na foirne a bhuaigh Craobh na hÉireann in 1980, 1987 agus 1988. 

Martin Hayes - Fidléir Éireannach mór le rá as Co. an Chláir agus ball den sárghrúpa Gael-Meiriceánach The Gloaming. Buaiteoir Chraobh na hÉireann ar an bhfidil – duine de thriúr fidléirí a ainmníodh mar Sheaimpín na hÉireann ar an bhfidil sa rannóg shinsearach dhá bhliain as a chéile. Ball de Bhanna Céilí na Tulaí. Gníomhach i saol an cheoil thraidisiúnta i Meiriceá agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Is iomaí gradam atá buaite aige, lena n-áirítear Gradam Ceoil TG4.

Beidh na searmanais bhronnta ar siúl ag 10.30am agus ag 3pm gach lá.

-Críoch-