University of Limerick awards night honours alumni

DOUBLE Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigative journalist and Limerick native Malachy Browne was among those honoured by University of Limerick at an awards ceremony.

The 16th annual UL Alumni Awards Gala Dinner took place in the Limerick Strand Hotel on Friday, November 3, and was held alongside the UL Sports Hall of Fame for the first time.

GAA president Dr Larry McCarthy, rugby star Lynne Cantwell, and Dave Mahedy, former UL sport & recreation director, were inducted into the UL Sports Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of inductees to 34, while Malachy Browne, Serosep founder

Dermot Scanlan and barrister Cathy Smith received UL Alumni Awards, joining a prestigious group of 50 alumni who have been previously honoured.

UL president, Professor Kerstin Mey, who attended the event along with Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, and others, praised some of UL’s “most accomplished, innovative, inspiring, creative, and influential alumni.”

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“By bringing these two prestigious events together, we are delighted to be able to recognise the exceptional achievements and contributions of our alumni and wider campus community and showcase the breadth and depth of talent that University of Limerick produces,” Professor Mey said.

UL launched the Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 to serve as a permanent tribute to the many outstanding sporting achievements of past and present members of the campus community.

The inaugural UL Alumni Awards ceremony was first hosted in 2006 and previous recipients include Tony Ward, Jean Butler, Professor Brigid Laffan and Dr Hugh O’Donnell.

The awards recognise graduates who have made a significant impact in various fields, including in business, entrepreneurship, science and technology, academia, societal and humanitarian areas, sport, culture and the arts.

“This Alumni Awards celebration has become one of the most prestigious events in the life of UL and among the alumni community, and we warmly welcome the new inductees who we have honoured this evening,” said Bobby O’Connor, chair of the UL Alumni Board.

Over 300 guests attended the event which was sponsored by Carelon with event partners Analog Devices and Stryker Ireland.