Two-time world boxing champion graduates from the University of Limerick

TWO-TIME world boxing champion Bernard Dunne is celebrating another win this week - his graduation from the University of Limerick (UL).

The super-bantamweight Dubliner, who also has European titles to his name, completed a masters of science in sport, exercise and performance psychology.

He was among the hundreds of students graduating from UL at this week’s summer conferring ceremony.

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It was the first full in-person conferring ceremony to take place at UL - where graduates could also invite their families to attend - since the pandemic began.

More than 700 students were conferred from the faculties of arts, humanities and social sciences, education and health sciences, plus science and engineering on Tuesday afternoon.

They join the more than 117,000 University of Limerick alumni based all around the world.

In total, there was 723 students conferred, including 13 PhDs. These included large cohorts of graduates from the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) and the Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership programmes.

Bernard - known as the Dublin Dynamo - said he “started the course a number of years ago and absolutely loved it because I was already working in the area.

“I had no grey hair before I started this course and look at me now,” he laughed.

Congratulations to the 700+ students who graduated yesterday from @UL and in particular to the six Drs' who worked with us at @sci_engUL

Dr Sean Carey
Dr Gearóid Collins
Dr Seamus Killian
Dr Kieran McCarthy
Dr Nastaran Nourmohammadishishivan
Dr Italo Pisano pic.twitter.com/GPudmZbtNl

— Bernal Institute (@BernalNews) June 15, 2022

Of the masters at UL he said: "I loved it – it helped frame and gave me tools to use immediately with athletes, with coaches, with management, so that gave me instant tools that were transferable into what I was doing. I get asked to work with a lot of teams as performance coach and now I actually have a piece of paper which says I can do it. It is an amazing thing to have, my wife and my daughter are here and we are having a family day today – and it is just such a big occasion to graduate with a masters."

Congrats to School Leadership 2022 Graduates! #postgraduate @UL pic.twitter.com/NyqcLlszse

— School of Education (@SchoolOfEd_UL) June 14, 2022

The campus is looking resplendent - ready for the 700+ students who will be graduating today

We can't wait to celebrate your successes with you and your families#StudyatUL pic.twitter.com/H0wHPomesQ

— University Of Limerick (@UL) June 14, 2022

Addressing graduates during the ceremony, UL President Professor Kerstin Mey congratulated the students for their success in spite of the challenges thrown up by Covid-19.

“Your journey through education has been exciting, challenging and indeed not without a great deal of effort and commitment, but today you are celebrating the fact that you have excelled academically and all while we faced some of the darkest and most challenging days in recent history,” Professor Mey said.

“Succeeding in the face of the Covid-19 cannot be underestimated as it shows tenacity, focus and strength of character for each and every one of you to be graduating here today. Be proud of your accomplishment. I am sure, your family, your friends, your tutors and your peers share in that pride.”

Prof Mey’s remarks to the new graduates also reflected that UL is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a year of events to mark the anniversary of the establishment of the university in 1972 as the National Institute of Higher Education.

“This is an occasion that brings with it many reasons to celebrate and indeed to look to the future. Since our inception as NIHE in 1972, this institution has been agile in its growth. As we begin a year of celebrations marking our 50th anniversary, we remember how we started, as pioneers, entrepreneurs and disruptors and we look forward towards how we will carve a course for our next 50 years as change agents. As you leave here today with your academic award, you too will become the leaders, pioneers and entrepreneurs that will drive societal change for the better."

"Some of you will be the disruptors in asking how we do things differently, but all of you will be capable of meeting the challenges ahead. Today closes one chapter of your life, while also opening the pages for new beginnings. As our ambassadors in society, your work across whatever discipline or sector you will work in, will be representative of UL’s motto Eagna chun Gnímh – Wisdom for Action," added the president.

"UL is a collective of extraordinary people. That makes me and this institution very proud," Prof Mey concluded.