Clare students lauded at Mary I graduations

*Aishling Kelly from Corbally Clare and Emma Gleeson from Listowel Kerry pictured as they graduated in Arts at Mary Immaculate College. Photograph: Brian Arthur

Three Clare students received academic achievement awards at the Mary Immaculate College graduations last week.

1,989 students from twenty seven counties, nine countries and four continents were conferred with academic awards across the Mary Immaculate College’s thirty plus programmes.

Amongst those to receive awards for their academic achievements was Lorraine Diggins from Sixmilebridge who was awarded the College Gold Medal for achieving first place in the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Care and Education programme. Leesa Flanagan from Westbury received the College Gold Medal for achieving first place in the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Practice programme, while Eimear O’Connell from Killaloe was awarded the College Gold Medal for achieving first place in the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) programme.

Clare students were also awarded with PhDs including Dr Charlotte Carey from Ardnacrusha and Dr Orla Murphy from Kilrush, both of whom were awarded doctorates in Educational and Child Psychology, while Dr Adele Hannon from Corbally was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (English). Dr Hannon was a recipient of a Departmental Assistantship from the Department of English at MIC from 2016-2019.

Congratulating the Class of 2019 and their families Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC, said: “Behind every graduate there are always other people to be found, dedicated mothers, fathers, grandparents, spouses or partners, relatives or friends who have also been part of the journey that culminates in this ceremony, from major sacrifice of financial support at the one end to the kindly provision of advice in the bleaker times on the other. We express our gratitude to you.”

He proceeded to talk about the profound digital transformation of work and society over the past few decades and noted that whilst it was “impossible to future-proof any diploma or degree, it is possible to acquire transferable skills and an adaptable mindset that will enable you to continue learning throughout your lifetime”.

Bringing the ceremonies to a close Professor Wall said: “I trust that the knowledge and skills that you have acquired during your time here at MIC will serve you in good stead in the years ahead. My earnest wish for you is that the personal qualities and characteristics that you have developed will be key assets in enabling you to flourish both professionally and personally. In your quest for success and for personal fulfilment, I hope that you are also guided by a desire to touch and enrich the lives of others, both those closest to you and more widely.”