'I have come all this way': Woman, 77, born in Bessborough mother and baby home conferred with PhD

'All I have ever wanted in my life is education. To me it’s the most important thing in the world,' says Dr Mary Harney after graduating

Dr Mary Harney, a 77-year-old human rights defender and campaigner who was born in Bessboro Mother and Baby Home in Cork, has graduated with a PhD from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway. Picture: Aengus McMahon

A 77-year-old woman born in Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork was conferred with a PhD on Thursday and called on people to do more than protesting to support disenfranchised people.

University of Galway celebrated the success of Dr Mary Harney, saying she is one of its oldest graduates and is “an inspiration” to other students.

Dr Harney, a human rights defender and advocate, earned her PhD studying with the Irish Centre for Human Rights.

“It is an absolute milestone. It’s more than that. All I have ever wanted in my life is education. To me it’s the most important thing in the world,” she said.

She said it was “the final part of the jigsaw puzzle” after taking up education late in life.

“I started my BA when I was 42, I am 77 now. I have come all this way,” she said.

“I’ve got two masters, an honorary master in Phil and now the PhD. Now for me, I’d like to say the circle has been complete, but I think there is more. I am hungry for more but I do not know what that more is, yet.” 

Dr Mary Harney with Dr Maeve O’Rourke, PhD supervisor and senior lecturer in the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway. Picture: Aengus McMahon

Dr Harney also had advice for other survivors of the mother and baby system or advocates supporting them.

“Find a support group. If there isn’t one already out there, create one,” she said.

“The power of meeting with disenfranchised people and becoming part of that group as opposed to being apart from it, I think that is one of the most important things.” 

She added: “We cannot support just by waving flags and protesting.

“We have to get out boots on the ground and work together with the people that are going through this very traumatic time in our world and we have to have solidarity on that. We cannot do it if we are all divided.” 

University of Galway interim deputy president and registrar Becky Whay officiated at the conferring ceremony.

“It is a privilege to share a stage and, on behalf of University of Galway, to bestow a doctorate on Mary Harney,” she said.

“She is an inspiration to all of us in the university and a remarkable symbol of the value of education.” 

Dr Harney’s PhD supervisor was senior lecturer in the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the university Maeve O’Rourke.

“We are so proud of Mary’s achievement. She is an inspiration to all of us in the Irish Centre for Human Rights and to human rights defenders globally,” said Dr O'Rourke.

Dr Harney's thesis topic was 'Towards Best Practices in the Pedagogy of Human Rights Clinics: Movement Lawyering, its Emotional Impacts on Students and the Question of Teaching Resilience'.

Dr Harney's story also featured in the award-winning documentary Testimony last year.