One of Ireland’s most decorated sports stars was among those conferred with an honorary doctorate at University College Cork today.

With 18 All-Ireland medals — six camogie and football doubles — Rena Buckley remains the only GAA player to captain her county of Cork to All-Ireland success, in both codes. 

Rena is one of the most decorated players in GAA history and today her achievements as one of the most accomplished people in Irish sport and leadership off the field were recognised with a Degree of Doctor of Arts.

The Managing Director of Glanbia, Siobhán Talbot, was also recognised with a Degree of Doctor of Laws. Siobhán is the second Irish woman to head an Irish listed company. Siobhán has been at the heart of not only Glanbia’s transformation but has been a driving force in the transformation of the Irish dairy sector from a sector dominated by small, local co-operatives to one now being led by home-grown, global giants.

Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle, was conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Arts. Professor Boyle has overseen the integration of advisory, education and research functions in Teagasc, into a unique integrated model of research and knowledge transfer.

UCC alumnus Daragh Horgan, a financier, explorer and philanthropist, was conferred with a degree of Doctor of Laws. Horgan, together with his wife Anne, has a long history of giving back to UCC, notably facilitating the digitisation of the letters of George Boole, making them accessible to all who are interested in UCC’s holdings of the mathematician’s papers.

Marty Meehan, the President of the University of Massachusetts (UMass) was conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Education. President Meehan served as a member of the US Congress for 14 years and was instrumental in the collaboration on sustainability between UCC and UMass. UMass, as a longstanding Gold STAR recipient, provided leadership and mentoring to our Green Campus Team.

“These honorary conferrings are to recognise outstanding leaders in their fields, who have made significant contributions to their sectors, codes and societies.” commented the President of UCC, Professor Patrick O’Shea.