Honorary Award Alumni
Honorary Award Alumni
Our Past Award Recipients
Each year Griffith College has the opportunity to present honorary awards during the graduation ceremonies in Cork, Dublin and Limerick campuses.
Below are the past recipients of these awards.
The Distinguished Fellowship Award is open to all individuals who have made a significant international contribution to Ireland (in any field).
Former recipients include:
| Year | Fellow | Title |
| 2024 | Michael Noonan | Former Finance Minister and Leader of Fine Gael |
| 2022 | Prof Wallace Ewart | Academic Consultant and former Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Ulster |
| 2021 | Paul Reid | CEO of HSE |
| 2019 | Ms Josephine Feehily | Chairperson, Policing Authority |
| 2018 | Joe Schmidt | Head Coach, Irish Rugby Team |
| 2017 | Frank Clarke | Chief Justice Supreme Court |
| 2016 | Archbishop Diarmuid Martin | Archbishop Roman Catholic Church |
| 2015 | JP McManus | Entrepreneur |
| 2014 | Prof Richard Barnett | Vice Chancellor, University of Ulster |
| 2013 | Chief Justice Susan Gageby Denham | Chief Justice of Ireland |
| 2012 | Prof Seamus Heaney | Poet Laureate |
| 2011 | Mr Peter Sutherland | Barrister and former Attorney General of Ireland |
| 2010 | Ms Catherine Day | Secretary- General of the European Commission |
| 2009 | Lord Diljit Rana MBE | House of Lords |
| 2008 | Mr Denis O’Brien | Chairman, DOB Group |
| 2007 | President Mary McAleese | President of Ireland |
| 2006 | John Hume | Nobel Peace Laureate |
| 2006 | Dr Martin Naughton | Chairman Intertrade Ireland |
| 2005 | Ms Gillian Bowler | Chairman: Failte Ireland, Irish Life & Permanent PLC, |
| 2004 | Lord Ballyedmond OBE | Chairman, Norbrook Laboratories Ltd |
The Award for Professional Excellence is open to all individuals who have made outstanding contributions to professional and/or educational development at a national level in Ireland.
Former recipients include:
| Year | Fellow | Title |
| 2024 | Brian Jennings | RTÉ Journalist and Newscaster |
| 2024 | Adam Harris | CEO and founder of AsIAm |
| 2023 | Dr. Rory O'Sullivan | Chair of Further Education and Training Colleges Ireland |
| 2023 | Gillian Keating, Caroline O’Driscoll and Sharon Lombard | Founders and executives of iWish - social enterprise |
| 2021 | Stephen O’Leary | Founder of Olytico & Griffith College Lecturer |
| 2021 | Mark Little | CEO of Kinzen |
| 2018 | Helen Dixon | Data Protection Commissioner |
| 2017 | Mark Fielding | ISME |
| 2016 | Micheal O’Murtagh | GAA Commentator |
| 2015 | Mr Thomas Geoghegan | Ireland’s Fishing Industry |
| 2014 | Ms Sylvia Meehan | Former Chairperson of the Employment Equality Agency |
| 2013 | Dr Martin Newell | Former CEO of CAO |
| 2013 | Michael Cawley | Former Chief Operating Officer Ryanair |
| 2012 | Mr Terence O’Rourke | Managing Partner, KPMG |
| 2011 | Mr Paul Rellis | Managing Director, Microsoft |
| 2011 | Fr Peter McVerry SJ | Founder, Peter McVerry Trust for Dublin Homeless |
| 2010 | Mr Louis Copeland | Master Tailor |
| 2009 | Mr George Hook | Journalist and Broadcaster |
| 2008 | Mr Kevin Moran | Gaelic and Soccer Footballer |
| 2007 | Mr John Bowman | Journalist, Broadcaster and Historian |
| 2005 | Mr Frank Ryan | Founder Member of the Society for Designers (now the Institute of Designers in Ireland) |
| 2005 | Dr Veronica Dunne | Internationally acclaimed opera singer, mentor & teacher, Royal Irish Academy of Music & Leinster School of Music |
| 2004 | Mr Richard Roche | Journalist, Author, Member of Irish Council for the Training of Journalists & Founder of Griffith College Journalism School |
| 2004 | Ms Sheila Murphy | Director, Leinster School of Music & Drama |
The Award for Distinguished Graduate is open to graduates who have completed a major academic or professional programme with Griffith College.
Former recipients include:
| Year | Fellow | Title |
| 2019 | Linda Mellerick | Managing Director at Ireland-based GxP Systems, Former All Ireland winner - Camogie |
