April University of Galway announce 2025 Alumni Awardees

University of Galway has announced the winners of our 2025 Alumni Awards.

Eight recipients are to be recognised at a gala awards night on Friday May 23, 2025.

The University’s Alumni Awards celebrate outstanding individuals among the 133,000 alumni, recognising their remarkable accomplishments across various fields on a local, national and international level.  

The winners of the 2025 University of Galway Alumni Awards are:  

• Alumni Award for Arts, Literature and Celtic Studies

Deirdre Sullivan, award winning novelist

• Alumni Award for Business and Commerce - Sponsored by Bank of Ireland

Anne O’Riordan, former Group Director of Digital at Jardine Matheson Limited

• Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge

Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner, Coimisiún na Meán

• Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy and Society – Sponsored by RDJ

Geoffrey Shannon, Circuit Court Judge

• Alumni Award for Engineering, Science and Technology 

Dr Fiona Grant, Head of International Programmes at the Marine Institute

• Alumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences – Sponsored by Medtronic

Dr Elizabeth Whalen, Medical Director of the Office for Public Health for the State of New York

• Alumni Award for Contribution to Sport 

Kevin Dinneen, Chair of Third Level Rugby and the IRFU Appeals Board 

• Alumni Award for Emerging Leaders

Dr Ríona Ní Ghriallais, co-founder of ProVerum

          Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “It is a privilege to honour the accomplishments of these eight remarkable individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields at home and abroad. Each one of them are making a great impact in their own way and I hope their achievements serve as an inspiration to our current students and our graduates. I look forward to welcoming them back to their alma mater in May.”

Professor Becky Whay, Interim Deputy President and Registrar at University of Galway, said: “Our Alumni Awards and our awards night on campus are a wonderful opportunity to recognise University of Galway graduates and to inspire our current students by showcasing some of the many different ways their predecessors have made a positive mark on the World. This year’s winners join an impressive roll call of 113 people from all walks of life who we have had the pleasure of helping to educate and, importantly, the pleasure of recognising and celebrating for their outstanding achievements since the awards began in the year 2000.”

For online reservations, visit https://www.universityofgalway.ie/alumni/alumniawards/ or contact Colm O’Dwyer at 091 494310.

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