Double graduation: ‘It’s hard to put into words how special this moment was’

September has been a special month for one Cork mother and her daughter, who graduated together from the University of Limerick.

Ruth Buckley was conferred with a Doctorate of Engineering (Apprenticeship), while her daughter Orla Gaffney was conferred with a BSc in Food Science and Nutrition.

“It’s hard to put into words just how special this moment is,” said Orla. “My mum has always been one of my biggest inspirations, not just in life but in my academic journey too.”

Their shared journey to graduation started four years ago.

“In 2021, I turned to mum in the car and said, ‘We are going to be graduating together in 2025’,” said Orla. She said from that moment, she was counting the days for them to graduate together.

Orla is a keen rower, and together with her siblings Eoin and Áine has represented Ireland rowing at home and abroad.

“I was inspired to take up rowing in 2012 by my brother, who represented Ireland four times at world level, and I began my own rowing journey at Shandon Boat Club,” Orla said.

“Over the years, rowing has shaped my discipline, resilience, and teamwork skills, and I’ve been fortunate to represent Ireland three times in the past three years, winning four national titles along the way.”

Orla said she had always had an interest in food and how it fuels the body.

“I vividly remember helping my parents in the kitchen, asking endless questions about why certain foods made me feel more energised or helped me recover faster after training,” said Orla.

As she became more involved in competitive rowing, she said she became increasingly aware of how nutrition could influence performance, recovery, and overall health.

“This blend of personal experience and scientific curiosity naturally drew me toward studying the relationship between food composition, processing, and human health.”

Orla says her mum’s involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) outreach activities, such as iWish, a community which organises events and activities designed to encourage young women to consider a career in STEM, also influenced her decision.

“Mum is a co-founder of iWish. I still remember attending one of her events in 2019, when I was in Transition Year, and feeling so inspired listening to the speakers share their stories. It was one of the first times I truly saw the possibilities that a STEM path could offer, “ she added.

While Orla pursued her studies in food science and nutrition, her mum was undertaking a PhD.

A graduate of Computer Science from University College Cork, Ruth worked as a programmer in the banking sector in Dublin and London before joining Cork City Council over 20 years ago as their first head of Information Technology, and is now in the role of Chief Information Officer.

She later completed an MBA at Henley Business School in the UK, and through her work, had the opportunity to undertake various public official programmes at Harvard Business School and the East China Normal University in Shanghai.

For Ruth, a PhD was always something she wanted to do, but she said that before taking it on, she considered the impact it would have on her own personal capacity and her family.

“My children were beginning to leave home and my youngest was 15 when I started. It’s important that you can get time out to do this on top of what you are doing already. I knew my children needed me less, so the timing is very important.”

UL’s Doctorate of Engineering (Apprenticeship) is a four-year course aimed at employed professionals who are already experienced in a particular area and wish to broaden their skills while they work.

Ruth’s doctoral thesis focused on cybersecurity.

“My current role as Chief Information Officer at Cork City Council is constantly changing with the introduction of new technologies and processes,” she explained.

“I liked the concept of a doctorate programme that was designed for people in the workplace, working full time, but which allowed the freedom to research immediate or emerging organisational challenges.

“I loved stretching outside my comfort zone, experiencing a new way of thinking, including the luxury of being able to research aspects of cyber which I couldn’t reach in my professional life.”

Orla and Ruth admitted that studying, while training and working respectively, was not without its challenges.

“Balancing my academic workload with high-performance sport was a challenge, especially during competition season,” said Orla.

During these periods, she trained 12 to 14 times each week while continuing to meet deadlines, something she said required strong time management and discipline.

“However, these pressures also taught me resilience and prioritisation skills that I’ll carry into my career. One of my most memorable moments was winning gold in the Women’s Senior Eight at the 2023 Homes International Regatta in London Docklands while representing Ireland.”

Ruth said she experienced periods where she seriously doubted her ability to complete her studies.

“I questioned myself and my motivation. In my darkest moments, usually when very tired, I felt foolish ‘at this age’ for taking this on.

“But then I considered the new experiences, the new people, and the ‘breath of fresh air’ impact of this undertaking on me and my perspectives. I just took a break, regrouped, and reminded myself that perseverance had served me well throughout my career.

“I also reminded myself that I was tackling a big problem in cyber for my sector and how this research would help me and others to understand and manage the risks.”

Ruth said that graduating alongside Orla was very special.

“I am extremely proud of Orla and what she has achieved at UL. She managed her degree in Food Science and Health, while managing the demands of an elite athlete in rowing.”

What is next for the Cork mum and her daughter?

Ruth is planning to share the learnings of her studies with colleagues with the aim of enhancing cyber security and resilience in her sector.

Meanwhile, Orla will shortly begin a role in Quality Assurance with the Kerry Group Graduate Programme in Charleville, and will continue her studies at UL with a two-year Master’s in Artificial Intelligence.

UL will support Orla’s elite rowing through a sports scholarship during this time. She said: “I am excited to combine my passion for food science with cutting-edge AI technology to drive innovation in the food industry.”