Doctor Neil Johnson and his wife Riona at University College Galway.
A West Limerick native was among those who received Honorary Degrees from the University of Galway at its Winter Conferring Ceremony.
Neil Johnson of Reens, Ardagh, was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Laws in recognition of his exceptional leadership of the heart and stroke charity Croí since his appointment as its first CEO in 1993.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Martin O’Don-nell said Mr. Johnson, a previous recipient of Galway Person of the Year, was being awarded with the Honorary Doctorate for excellence in leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to advancing cardiovascular health.
Mr. Johnson’s citation noted: “Neil has overseen foundation, growth and development of significant projects in cardiovascular health promotion, executed several multi-million euro fundraising initiatives and the construction of the Croí Heart and Stroke Centre building in Newcastle, Galway.”
He has been an Honorary Clinical Fellow in the School of Medicine at the College since 2015.
The other recipients were musician Frankie Gavin, Mary Moriarty-Ward (human rights), Hugh Logue (civil rights), Professor Peter Piot (Medicine), Eva Bourke (author), Patricia Forde (arts), Mirian Hand/Lourda McHugh (cancer research advocates) and James Hardiman librarian Marie Reddan.
President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: Each one has made an excellent and distinctive contribution to public life, the betterment of society and the interests of humanity, leaving the world in a better place than we found it, which is the responsibility of us all.
“It is also great to be able to mark the achievements of our outstanding graduates and those being conferred with an honorary award for the first time under our new name and our new identity and celebrate everything that Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway stands for, whether it’s through our values, our work for the public good and being in and of our place.”