Alumni Awards 2012

At the NUI Galway Alumni Awards and Gala Banquet 2012 were (back row, l-r): Professor Fergal O'Gara, Aramark Alumni Award for Science; Máire Whelan, Bank of Ireland Award for Business, Public Policy and Law; Gerry Kilcommins, Bank of Ireland Award for Engineering and Informatics; Marie Mullen, AIB Award for Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies; and ; Peadar Mac An Iomaire, Duais Hewlett Packard don Gaeilge. Front row, l-r: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Professor Tim O'Brien, Medtronic Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; and NUI Galway President, Dr Jim Browne.

A celebration of the achievements of NUI Galway’s alumni took place in the Bailey Allen Hall on campus Saturday night with special guest An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. Over 450 people gathered for the 12th Annual Gala Banquet, a glamorous occasion hosted by RTÉ’s Deputy Director of TV Programmes, Mairéad Ní Nuadháin.

Among the guests were alumni, staff, students and friends of the University. The feature of the night was the presentation of the Annual Alumni Awards to:

• Máire Whelan, Attorney General of Ireland, who received the Bank of Ireland Award for Business, Public Policy and Law
• Gerry Kilcommins, VP Global Vascular Operations & General Manager Medtronic Galway and past President American Chamber of Commerce, Ireland who received the Bank of Ireland Award for Engineering and Informatics
• Professor Fergal O'Gara, Chair of Microbiology UCC who received the Aramark Alumni Award for Science
• Marie Mullen - actress, Druid Theatre Company co-founder who received the AIB Award for Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies
• Professor Tim O'Brien, Director, Gait Laboratory & Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Central Remedial Clinic who received the Medtronic Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
• Peadar Mac An Iomaire, Iar-Phríomhfheidhmeannach, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway who received the Duais Hewlett Packard don Gaeilge

Special guest on the night An Taoiseach and former NUI Galway student, Enda Kenny TD, said: “The people we honour here this evening have made remarkable and diverse contributions to Irish life, which rightly deserve to be. In honouring those six distinguished graduates this evening, we highlight not only their achievements, we also take the opportunity to recognise the contribution, and indeed the calibre, of Irish graduates generally.

“Since its establishment well over a century and half ago, NUI Galway has always aimed to be one of Ireland’s foremost centres of academic excellence. Since spending time as a student on this campus in the 1970s, I have seen NUI Galway, and indeed the surrounding city, grow and develop continually. In particular the transformation that has taken place over the last decade has been remarkable. The campus now offers the best of facilities for teaching and research and a wealth of modern amenities for students.”

An Taoiseach added: “In diverse ways our Alumni Award winners have helped to shape Irish society and culture, broken new boundaries of knowledge and forged new industries and enterprises. In the arts and culture, in business, governance and industry, and in the sciences - they are the social leaders, who continue to build our future. They serve as an inspiration to the next generation of emerging students - and they too will bring their talents and ingenuity to Irish society and enterprise in new and creative ways. I congratulate tonight's honourees and all involved in this event.”

Entertainment for the Gala was provided by internationally renowned Donegal singer Moya Brennan, formerly of Clannad fame. Moya performed with her daughter Aisling before she embarks on a US Tour.

Alumni Awards 2011

The eleventh anniversary of the Alumni Awards was held on Saturday 5th March in NUI Galway's Bailey Allen Hall. Six alumni, Dr Gerald Farrell, Managing Director of Eli Lilly, Michael Conroy, General Manager, Cisco Product Group, Ireland, Gabriel D'Arcy, CEO Bord na Móna, John Walshe, Education Editor, Irish Independent, Dr Brian Griffin,Cleveland Clinic, USA, Director, Cardiovascular Disease Training Programme, Colm Murray, RTÉ Sports Presenter were honoured at this year's event. Read more about these remarkable graduates.

In the news

• Listen to Sandra Butler's Alumni Awards Special from her radio show Alumni Hour on FLIRT FM
• Read Connacht Tribune editor Dave O'Connell's experience of the event in his article College years are the touchstone for the rest of your life
• Look at the photos
• Watch some highlights of the event here