Honorary Degrees at Trinity/ Céimeanna Oinigh i gColáiste na Tríonóide
Posted on: 09 December 2013
The distinguished sportsman and commentator, Johnny Giles, a world leading expert on chimpanzees, Jane Goodall, film maker, Lelia Doolan, leading phonetician, John Laver and chairman of the Board of the Irish Times Ltd, David Went were conferred with Honorary Degrees at Trinity College Dublin on Friday, December 6th last. As a mark of respect to Nelson Mandela, who was conferred with an Honorary Degree in April 2000 by the University, there was also a minute’s silenc at the ceremony and the University flag was at half mast.
The distinguished sportsman and commentator, Johnny Giles, one of Ireland’s best known and most popular sports figures was conferred with a Doctor in Laws (LL.D). He is a former professional footballer playing first for Manchester United and then for the very successful Leeds United side in the 1960s and 70s. He also played 59 times for Ireland, and is widely regarded as one of the best ever Irish footballers. Since retiring from professional soccer, Giles managed several teams, including the Republic of Ireland, and subsequently served as an analyst and commentator for RTE and other media, contributing enormously to the public understanding of the sport. Born in inner city Dublin, he remains close to his roots. He has made very significant and sustained endeavours to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds develop their sporting and life skills, culminating in the establishment in 2011 of the John Giles Foundation which aims to promote soccer as a positive influence in the lives of disadvantaged young people.
Considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees the ethologist, Jane Goodall was conferred with a Doctor in Science (Sc.D). She is best known for her 54-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. Her ground-breaking research redefined our understanding of the great apes and made her “the woman who redefined man”. A tireless campaigner for conservation, animal welfare issues and environmental consciousness, she is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute now working in nearly 30 countries and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots a humanitarian, conservation and education programme for young people, now active in more than 130 countries. She was made a UN Messenger of Peace by Kofi Annan in 2002 and reappointed by Secretary General Ban ki Moon.
Pictured on the occasion of the ceremony were: Johnny Giles, David Went, Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast, John Laver, Lelia Doolan, Jane Goodall, Chancellor of the University, Mary Robinson
The notable producer, film maker and theatre director, Lelia Doolan was conferred with a Doctor in Letters (Litt.D). She is also a journalist, teacher and community activist. She has demonstrated a life-long commitment to the arts and entertainment in all its forms. She began acting and presenting in the newly established RTE in 1961, moving soon to producer/director. She was responsible for the establishment of ‘The Riordans’. She was artistic director of the Abbey Theatre. A former chairperson of the Irish Film Board, she was a founder and director of the Galway Film Fleadh, and is currently Chairperson of Solas Galway’s Picture Palace Teoranta. Dr Doolan recently directed a documentary about Bernadette McAliskey.
Leading phonetician, John Laver, Emeritus Professor at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and previously Vice-Principal for Research, University of Edinburgh, wias conferred with a Doctor in Letters (Litt.D). He is one of the outstanding phoneticians of his day. His book, Principles of Phonetics is an essential reference work for phoneticians and for all who work in the area of speech communication. His research on voice quality has intersected with and had a major impact on the research of Trinity’s Phonetics and Speech Laboratory. John Laver has also been a tireless and eloquent advocate for the arts and humanities across all disciplines and was instrumental in making the case for increased research funding for the humanities in the UK. Professor Laver has made a significant contribution to Trinity, initially as chair of the 2006 external review of arts and humanities research in Trinity which led to the creation of the Trinity Long Room Hub, and subsequently as inaugural Chair of its Board.
Trinity graduate David Went and one of the foremost voluntary contributors to the College in recent decades was conferred with a Doctor in Laws (LL.D). He has given freely of his time and expertise over 11 years as Chairman of the Trinity Foundation. He has also been personally involved in supporting the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP) and the National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID). He has had a distinguished career in banking and insurance, serving in many senior positions in Ireland and abroad and was Group Chief Executive of Irish Life & Permanent plc (1998-2007). In 2009 he was appointed by the Minister for Finance as Chairman of the Consultative Industry Panel to the Financial Regulator. He has been Chairman of the Board of The Irish Times Limited since 2007.
Céimeanna Oinigh i gColáiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath.
Bronnadh céimeanna oinigh ar an fear spóirt agus tráchtaire iomráiteach, Johnny Giles, an príomh saineolaí domhanda ar simpeansaithe, Jane Goodall, an scannánóir, Lelia Doolan, an foghraí, John Laver agus cathaoirleach Bhord an Irish Times Teo., David Went i gColáiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath ar an Aoine 6 Nollaig.
Bronnadh Dochtúireacht sa Dlí (LL.D) ar an fear spóirt agus tráchtaire iomráiteach, Johnny Giles, duine de na pearsa spóirt is mó cáil in Éirinn a bhfuil gnaoi an phobail air. Is iar-pheileadóir gairimiúil é- d’imir sé i dtosach ar son Manchester United agus ansin don fhoireann ráthúil Leeds United sna 1960idí agus na 70idí. D’imir sé 59 uair ar son na Éireann agus tá cáil forleathan air mar dhuine de na peileadóirí Éireannacha is fear riamh. Ó d’éirigh sé as an sacar gairmiúil, bhí sé ina bhainisteoir ar mhorán foireann, foireann Phoblacht na hÉireann san áireamh. Bhí sé freisin ina anailisí agus ina thráchtaire ar RTÉ agus ar na meáin eile, ag cur go mór leis an dtuiscint phoiblí ar an gcluiche. Rugadh é in ionchathair Bhaile Átha Cliath agus d’fhan sé dílis dá dhúchas i gcónaí. Tá tréan-iarrachtaí marthanacha déanta aige chun cabhrú le leanaí ó chúlraí atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste chun a scileanna spóirt agus saoil a fhorbairt- iarrachtaí a shroich buaic i 2011 le bunú Fondúireacht Johnny Giles, a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aici an sacar a chur chun cinn mar thionchar dearfach i saoil dhaoine óga atá faoi mhíbhuntaiste.
Bronnadh Dochtúireacht san Eolaiocht (Sc. D.) ar an duine a cheaptar a bheith ina príomh saineolaí domhanda ar simpeansaithe, an eitneolaí Jane Goodall. Tá clú agus cáil uirthi de bharr an staidéar 54 bliain a rinne sí ar chaidrimh shóisialta agus teaghlaigh na simpeansaithe fiáine i bPáirc Náisiúnta Shruthán Gombe in Tanzania. Sholáthraigh a taighde úrnua sainmhíniú úr dúinn ar na hápa móra agus tugadh “the woman who redefined man” uirthi. Agus í ina bean feachtais gan scíth ar son cheisteanna caomhnaithe, leas na n-ainmhmhithe agus feasachta comhshaoil, bhunaigh sí Insititúid Jane Goodall atá ag saothrú anois i nach mór 30 tír, agus Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, clár daonnúil, caomhnaithe agus oideachais do dhaoine óga, atá gníomhach anois i níos mó ná 130 tír. Cheap Kofi Annan í mar Theachtaire Síochána de chuid na Náisiúin Aontaithe in 2002 agus ath-ceapadh í ag an Ardrúnaí Ban ki Moon.
Bronnadh Dochtúireacht sa Litríocht (Litt. D.) ar an léiritheoir, scannánóir agus stiúrthóir amharclainne iomráiteach, Lelia Doolan. Is iriseoir, teagascóir agus gníomhaí pobail í freisin. Tá tiomantas saoil léirithe aici do na healaíona agus don siamsaíocht ina ngnéithe uile. Thosaigh sí amach ag aisteoireacht agus ag láithreoireacht in RTÉ in 1961, stáisiún a bhí nua-bhunaithe ag an am. Bhog sí go tapaidh isteach i ról mar léiritheoir/stiúrthóir. Bá í a bhí freagrach as bunú “The Riordans”. Ba stiúrthóir ealaíne í ar Amharclann na Mainistreach. Agus í ina iar-chathaoirleach ar Bhord Scannán na hÉireann, ba bhunaitheoir agus stiúrthóir í ar Fleadh Scannán na Gaillimhe. Faoi láthair, tá sí ina Cathaoirleach ar Picture Palace Teoranta le Solas Galway. Le déanaí, stiúraigh an Dr Doolan clár faisnéise faoi Bernadette McAliskey.
Bronnadh Dochtúireacht sa Litríocht (Litt. D.) ar an príomh Fhoghraí, John Laver, Ollamh Emeritus in Ollscoil na Banríona Margaret i nDún Éideann (duine a bhí roimhe sin ina Leas-Phríomhoide Taighde in OIllscoil Dhún Éideann). Is duine de sár-fhoghraithe a linne é. Tá a leabhar, Principles of Phonetics mar shaothar tagartha riachtanach d’fhoghraithe agus do gach duine atá ag saothrú i réimse na cumarsáide urlabhra. Bhí a thaighde ar chaighdeán an ghuth ag trasnú le taighde Shaotharlann Foghraíochta agus Urlabhra Choláiste na Tríonóíde, agus tionchar mór aige air. Tá John Laver i ndiaidh a bheith ina urlabhraí deisbhéalach gan scíth do na healaíona agus na daonnachtaí i ngach disciplín, agus bhí sé lárnach sa chás a cuireadh chun cinn maidir le hardú ar mhaoiniú taighde do na daonnachtaí sa Ríocht Aontaithe. Tá páirt shuntasach glactha ag an tOllamh Laver i gColáiste na Tríonóide- ar dtús, bhí sé ina chathaoirleach ar an athbhreithniú seachtrach a rinneadh ar thaighde ealaíon agus daonnachtaí sa Choláiste, a shroich buaic le bunú Mhol an tSeomra Fhada, agus i ndiaidh sin bhí sé mar an chéad Cathaoirleach ar a Bhord.
Bronnadh Dochtúireacht sa Dlí (LL.D) ar chéimí de chuid an Choláiste David Went, duine de na rannpháirtithe deonacha is tábhachtaí sa Choláiste le blianta. Mar Chathaoirleach ar Fhondúireacht na Tríonóide, chuir sé a chuid ama agus a shaineolas ar fáil thar tréimhse 11 bliain. Thacaigh sé go pearsanta le Cláir Rochtana Choláiste na Trionóide (TAP) agus an Institiúid Naisiúnta um Mhíchumas Intleachta (NIID). Tá gairm gradamach caite aige in earnáil na baincéireachta agus árachais, agus bhí poist shinsearacha aige in Éirinn agus thar lear. Bhí sé mar Phríomhfheidhmeannach Grúpa ar Irish Life & Permanent plc (1998-2007). In 2009 cheap an tAire Airgeadais é mar Chathaoirleach ar an bPainéal Comhairleach Tionsclaíochta don Rialtóir Airgeadais. Tá sé ina Chathaoirleach ar Bhord an Irish Times Teo. ó 2007.