Fergus Finlay and Donncha Ó Dúlaing among UCC alumni award recipients

A former political strategist- turned children’s rights champion, a GAA icon, a broadcasting legend, and two renowned academics have been honoured by UCC for outstanding success in their chosen fields.

Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay, who led several Labour campaigns, including that which led to the election of Mary Robinson as president, said he was “surprised, delighted and honoured” to accept UCC’s Alumni Achievement Award.

“This award came out of the blue, and if I’m honest, I’m getting it because I’ve been very lucky with the people I’ve worked with,” he said. The Irish Examiner columnist, who graduated from UCC with a BComm in 1971, has been described as “one of the great backroom operators of Irish political history”. As head of Barnardos, he pushes to improve laws, policies, and procedures across all areas that affect children’s lives.