Late museum founder honoured

THE University of Limerick yesterday saluted a lawyer, an entrepreneur, a politician and a philanthropist with honorary doctorates.

Gordon Holmes, former State Solicitor; entrepreneur John Ryan; Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament and the late philanthropist John Hunt were conferred.

“Each of the four have, in their own distinctive ways, made enormous contributions to public life, in Ireland and abroad. All four are closely connected with this region and the university takes great pride in their achievements,” Sean Donlon, Chancellor of UL said.

Gordon Holmes was honoured with a Doctorate of Laws in acknowledgment of his 11-year service as State Solicitor for the city, during which time he also acted as Solicitor to the Attorney-General.

John Ryan was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Engineering for his services to Technology. He co-founded Macrovision Corporation in 1983 and a year later he invented a technology which has become the worldwide standard for copy-protection of video programmes.

Pat Cox, academic, broadcaster and politician, received an honorary Doctorate of Economic Science and the late John Hunt posthumously received an honorary Doctorate of Letters for a life committed to cultural and heritage preservation.