Two trailblazers receive honorary doctorate for 'outstanding contribution' to society

A trailblazing archaeologist and a leading advocate for survivors of sexual abuse have been conferred with honorary doctorates by University of Limerick this Tuesday.

Archaeologist Rose Cleary received the title alongside leading advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, Maeve Lewis.

The pair were honoured for their outstanding contribution to society.

The recipients joined 3,500 graduates being conferred at UL over five days as part of the 2023 Autumn Conferring.

“We are delighted to bestow the University’s highest award to two honorary doctorate recipients today – an occasion that always greatly adds to the breadth and calibre of those we are privileged to count among our community,” said Professor Kerstin Mey, president of UL.

“Both of our recipients are leaders by example, and we are delighted that Rose and Maeve have both joined our roll of honour here at UL," she added. 

Rose Cleary, who has been hailed for her contribution in putting Limerick on the map as a county of exceptional archaeological, historical, and cultural importance, said she was “delighted and honoured” to receive the honorary doctorate from UL.

“I suppose it reflects all these years working in archaeology here and as well as that I owe the county a lot because they allowed me to work here for over 40 years, I had a great time while I was at it and I made a lot of friends here,” Dr Cleary explained.

Asked about the significance of Lough Gur in County Limerick as an archaeological site, Dr Cleary said there was “new discoveries happening every day out there”.

“It is a hugely important archaeological landscape in Ireland; apart from the fact that it has been inhabited for about 9,000 years, it has a whole load of visible monuments – and you can actually see a lot of the remains of house sites and the stone circles and all the rest of it. It was a privilege for me to work there all this time.”

Meave Lewis, an alumnus of UL who graduated from University of Limerick (then NIHE) in 1979, said:
“It is an incredible honour to receive this honorary doctorate – part of me can’t believe that the
University is giving me such an honour. It is wonderful to be here with my Mum and family and
friends here today.”

Asked what advice she would give to students graduating this week, Dr Lewis said: “Graduates today are facing problems that my generation didn’t have to face, in particular climate change, dealing with AI – so what I would say to them is to be brave, be courageous, not to settle for a career but to find something that inspires them, excites them and where they really can make a change.