Dr Tóibín chuffed at college honour

“I’M probably fairly tame now and can’t do any more damage so they gave me a doctorate,” was how a modest Niall Tóibín summed up UCC’s decision to grant him an honorary doctorate.

Looking fresh and spritely, one of the finest comics, mimics and actors this country has ever produced said he would have placed himself well down the list of people to be bestowed the honour of Doctor of Arts.

“If you had asked me at any time in the last 70 or 80 years, or whatever I am, who would be the least likely candidate for a doctorate, I would have said ‘Me’. If I had gone to college, I would have said ‘I’, but there you go.