2024 Class Acts - UCD Connections

Mark O'Neill

BComm 2003, MAcc 2004

Mark O’Neill is Founder and Executive Chairman of HAON Life Sciences, a new biotech which was recently selected as a finalist for EIT Health’s pan-European Wild Card innovation competition where healthcare companies from across Europe were invited to develop solutions to pressing health challenges – this year the competition is tackling children’s health. HAON is developing the CanVas novel cell therapy platform for a number of indications, including the devastating paediatric disease HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) where a lack of oxygen and blood flow at the time of birth causes severe brain injury. In large animal preclinical models of neonatal brain injury, HAON’s Can-Vas-001 has shown to be neuroprotective and significantly improved outcomes. A number of HAON’s preclinical findings are expected to be translatable to a host of neurodegenerative diseases, which opens up multiple early pharma partnering opportunities. Before founding HAON, O’Neill, a chartered accountant, was Chief Financial Officer of Afimmune, a pharmaceutical drug discovery and development company focused on rare diseases.

NIAMH BAMBRICK

BAgrSc 2016

Niamh Bambrick is the new president of the Agricultural Science Association, a voluntary organisation which is the professional body for graduates in agricultural, horticultural, forestry, environmental and food science. Its 1,600 members operate across the agri-food sector both in Ireland and internationally, holding roles in government departments, research, advisory/consultancy, education and training, agri-business, rural organisations, banking and the media. Bambrick is a former county chair of Kilkenny Macra na Feirme and plays camogie for Kilkenny.

EADAOIN MC LOUGHLIN

BSc Engineering 2013, ME Electrical Energy 2014

Eadaoin McLoughlin received the Energy Award at the inaugural Women in STEM Awards in 2023. McLoughlin works with Energia Renewables as a project manager, having built her expertise in Ireland and in the Middle East. She is currently leading the Castlereagh Battery Energy Storage Project, Energia Group’s first gridconnected battery site, which will help the stability of the electricity grid during times of high renewable generation by storing electricity which can be released back into the system quickly when needed.

HELEN SHERIDAN

BAgrSc 2001, PhD Environmental Resource Management 2005

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has appointed Dr Helen Sheridan to the Teagasc Authority. Dr Sheridan is an associate professor at the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science where she lectures in Farm Landscape Ecology and Agri-Environmental Policy and is Programme Director of the BAgrSc Agri-Environmental Sciences. Dr Sheridan’s research focuses on enhancing the sustainability of livestock production systems, multi-species swards, farmland biodiversity, farmland habitats and agrienvironment scheme measures.

PADRAIG MC DONNELL

ProfDip 2014

Padraig McDonnell has been appointed CEO and COO of Silicon Valley life sciences and diagnostics company Agilent Technologies, which supports scientists in cutting-edge life science research, patient diagnostics, and the safety testing of water, food and pharmaceuticals. It employs over 18,000 staff globally and operates in 110 countries, with full-year revenues in 2023 of $6.8bn (€6.3bn). McDonnell started his career at HP, Agilent’s predecessor company, in 1998.

SHEILA PORTER

BSc 1970, HDip Ed 1971

Sheila Porter, the founder and CEO of SciFest, a STEM competition for young people, was named Mentor of the Year at the inaugural Women in STEM Awards in 2023. Porter is a trailblazer in the world of science and innovation who has worked for over 50 years to make STEM accessible to all, particularly targeting young women and underserved populations. She founded SciFest in 2006. The competition is free to enter and open to all second-level students.

JACK REILLY

BSc Physics, Astronomy & Space Science 2018, MSc Physics 2021

Jack Reilly was part of the student team working on the EIRSAT-1 (Educational Irish Research Satellite 1), Ireland’s first satellite, in the framework of the European Space Agency’s educational programme, ESA Academy. The satellite launched late last year from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and was a flagship project of UCD Centre for Space Research (C-Space), UCD School of Physics and UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

ANNA HEFFERNAN

BSc Theoretical Physics 2003, HDip Computational Science 2008, PhD Mathematical Physics 2013

Dr Anna Heffernan has been appointed an advisor on one of the European Space Agency’s biggest projects ever. The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna LISA mission is a €1.75bn project in partnership with NASA, which aims to launch the first ever observatory in space dedicated to studying gravitational waves. Heffernan’s involvement was announced at the International LISA Symposium, which took place in UCD in July

ABEBA BIRHANE

MA 2015, PhD 2022

Cognitive scientist Abeba Birhane has been included on the 2023 TIME100 AI list which recognises the 100 most influential individuals in AI today. Birhane’s research demonstrates that AI models trained on larger datasets are more likely to display harmful biases and stereotypes, as few people systematically check them for harmful material, which can result in AI becoming structurally racist, sexist, and otherwise biased. Just, equitable, and fair models are more likely to be achieved using relatively small-scale datasets.

PHILIP BROPHY

BSc Chemistry 2008, MMgt 2014, ProfDip 2016

Philip Brophy, CEO of start-up PushMe, was named winner of the Most Likely to Scale Award, in the 2023 New Frontiers Programme run by IADT Media Cube in partnership with NovaUCD. PushMe is a digital coaching platform grounded in the latest behavioural and performance science to help companies retain their top talent. The platform is designed to help professionals feel more engaged and connected at work by empowering them to find solutions to challenges.

FERGAL MEEGAN & BARRY MURPHY

BBLS 2001, MBS 2002 & BE Civil 2010, ProfCert Stockbroking 2013

Fellow alumni Fergal Meegan (CEO) and Barry Murphy (COO) co-founded Assiduous, a capital markets technology company dedicated to helping owners of aspiring growth companies build valuable businesses and achieve financial independence. The start-up was awarded the One to Watch Award in the 2023 New Frontiers Programme run by IADT Media Cube in partnership with NovaUCD. Assiduous has secured €500k in funding to develop a digital platform to prepare business owners and executive teams for efficient and credible market engagement and capital raising.

CONOR WALSH

BE Mechanical 2005

UK-based neobank Monzo has appointed Conor Walsh as CEO of its US business as it attempts to expand in the market for a second time. Monzo first attempted to set up a US operation in 2019 but withdrew its application for a US banking licence after more than two years of negotiations with regulators. CNBC recently named Monzo on its Disruptor50 list and the company has raised $610m to accelerate its US expansion.

NGOZI ELOBUIKE

MA Race, Migration and Decolonial Studies 2022

Ngozi Elobuike created Dublin’s premier Black-led wine and spirits social club, Hi Spirit, utilising cutting-edge AI technology, including ChatGPT, Gamma.AI, and Notion AI. She manages a growing membership pool of over 100 individuals, fostering a vibrant community united by a shared passion for fine wines and spirits. She was named by The Irish Times as one of its Top 50 People to Watch in 2024 and has recently launched Zorelle, Ireland’s first pan-African gin.

PATRICIA MAGUIRE

BSc 1995, PhD Pharmacology 1999

Professor Patricia Maguire has launched the UCD AI Healthcare Hub (AIHH) to revolutionise healthcare with AI. She developed PALADIN, a unique platform combining platelets, omics and AI, for ground-breaking disease diagnostics, which has led to patented diagnostics for pre-eclampsia, resulting in the AI_PREMie project, recognised in October 2023 in the UNESCO Global Top 100 for using AI to address UN SDGs.

MARTIN O’REILLY

PhD Public Health, Physio and Sport Science 2018

Martin O'Reilly, Julian Eberle, Brian Caulfield and Darragh Whelan co-founded Output Sports. UCD sports technology spin-out Output Sports has expanded into the US market. Output’s products enable strength and conditioning coaches, sport scientists and rehab professionals to understand and optimise their athletes’ performance using a single wearable sensor system. The company’s technology is currently used by sports practitioners across 30+ countries, including the US, and in multiple sports. The company hopes to collaborate with the Boston Red Sox baseball team as part of its investment in Massachusetts.

DONNCHADH CASEY

BE Civil 2003, MEngSc Civil 2006, MBA 2012

Donnchadh Casey has been named Chief Operating Officer at Calypso AI which specialises in AI Security and Enablement and works with enterprises and governments to leverage the potential of generative AI solutions and large language models (LLMs) responsibly and securely. Based in Dublin, Casey will work closely with CEO and Founder Neil Serebryany to oversee the company’s go-to-market strategy and manage customer success. Casey most recently served as Chief Customer Officer at leading technology company Qualtrics.

KATE KILLEEN

BA English with Film 2014, MSc HR 2016, DipEmpL 2018, MBA 2022

As People Lead, Ireland, for EPAM Systems, an American company specialising in software engineering services, digital platform engineering, and digital product design, Kate Killeen has been awarded the Tech Excellence Ireland 2023 Rising Star award, which recognises outstanding achievements made by a recent entrant into the IT industry, whose contribution to his or her organisation has had a significant impact on its business. Killeen was also named Mentor of the Year 2024 by The Big Idea creative education initiative.

MARK KELLY

MBS 2005

Mark Kelly, founder of AI Ireland, has published AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution as a Business Executive, a guide to mastering the intricacies and seizing the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI. Informed by interviews with more than 450 leaders in the AI field, the book blends theoretical acumen and actionable advice, and highlights AI’s pivotal role across a range of industries. Real-world case studies from diverse sectors provide a practical toolkit for executives.

ALISON DARCY

BA Psychology 1999, MLitt Psychology 2005, PhD Psychology 2007

Founder and President of Woebot Health, Dr Alison Darcy has been named on the prestigious 2023 TIME100 AI list which recognises the 100 most influential individuals advancing conversations about how AI is reshaping the world. The list includes leaders, policymakers, artists and entrepreneurs in various fields who are pushing the boundaries of AI, driving change, fostering innovation and shaping the future of their industries. Dr Darcy was also a UCD Alumni Awardee in Social Sciences in 2023.

FERGAL REID

PhD Computer Science 2013

Fergal Reid has been named VP of AI at Intercom, which is pioneering the development of new products, primarily in the area of customer support, the first of many industries that the company believes will be revolutionised by machine learning. Reid has been with Intercom since 2017. His machine learning start-up Synference was acquired by Optimizely in San Francisco. His PhD was in machine learning applied to network analysis.

MIRIAM MURPHY

BComm 1990

Miriam Murphy has been named President, Europe, of tech distributor and aggregator TD Synnex, and will be responsible for leading the company’s 7,000-strong European workforce, driving strategy and operational execution. She will serve on the company’s global executive team and lead the European executive board. Murphy returns to TD Synnex following two years as CEO, Europe, at NTT Data Services Ireland. Prior to this, she served at TD Synnex for more than 20 years.

SANJAY ABRAHAM

MSc Management 2018

Sanjay Abraham has been named on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Europe/Technology category. He is the co-founder of healthcare staffing platform Xpress Health, which provides software to connect vetted professionals (namely, registered nurses) to facilities needing flexible shift coverage while managing compliance and payments. Xpress Health supports over 25,000 workers on the platform and 2,500 facilities in Ireland and the UK. Expansion to Canada and Australia is planned this year.

DARRAGH WHELAN

PhD Public Health, Physio and Sport Science 2018

Darragh Whelan, Julian Eberle, Brian Caulfield and Martin O'Reilly co-founded Output Sports. UCD sports technology spin-out Output Sports has expanded into the US market. Output’s products enable strength and conditioning coaches, sport scientists and rehab professionals to understand and optimise their athletes’ performance using a single wearable sensor system. The company’s technology is currently used by sports practitioners across 30+ countries, including the US, and in multiple sports. The company hopes to collaborate with the Boston Red Sox baseball team as part of its investment in Massachusetts.

JULIAN EBERLE

BSc Theoretical Physics 2014

Julian Eberle, Brian Caulfield, Martin O'Reilly and Darragh Whelan co-founded Output Sports. UCD sports technology spin-out Output Sports has expanded into the US market. Output’s products enable strength and conditioning coaches, sport scientists and rehab professionals to understand and optimise their athletes’ performance using a single wearable sensor system. The company’s technology is currently used by sports practitioners across 30+ countries, including the US, and in multiple sports. The company hopes to collaborate with the Boston Red Sox baseball team as part of its investment in Massachusetts.

BRIAN CAULFIELD

BPhysio 1992, MMedSc 1994, PhD Physiotherapy 2002

Brian Caulfield, Martin O'Reilly, Darragh Whelan and Julian Eberle co-founded Output Sports. UCD sports technology spin-out Output Sports has expanded into the US market. Output’s products enable strength and conditioning coaches, sport scientists and rehab professionals to understand and optimise their athletes’ performance using a single wearable sensor system. The company’s technology is currently used by sports practitioners across 30+ countries, including the US, and in multiple sports. The company hopes to collaborate with the Boston Red Sox baseball team as part of its investment in Massachusetts.

SHANE DE BLACAM

BArch 1968

Shane de Blacam has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Royal Academy of Arts Architecture Prize at a ceremony in London. The jury’s citation noted de Blacam’s dedication to communitycentric spaces and the craft of his buildings. De Blacam is a Fulbright scholar who studied under Louis Kahn at the University of Pennsylvania and went on to found leading Irish architecture practice De Blacam and Meagher with his teaching colleague in the UCD School of Architecture, the late John Meagher.

JOHN TUOMEY

BArch 1976, MArch 2004

Architect John Tuomey has published a memoir, First Quarter, with Lilliput Press. O’Donnell & Tuomey, the practice Tuomey founded with his wife, Sheila O’Donnell, is known for social and cultural spaces such as the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, the Glucksman Gallery in UCC and the Victoria & Albert East Museum in London. Tuomey studied at UCD when the School of Architecture was located in Earlsfort Terrace, and is now Emeritus Full Professor at UCD.

RÓISÍN HENEGHAN

BArch 1987

Róisín Heneghan has been elected to membership of Aosdána. After a masters degree at Harvard, she co-founded Heneghan Peng in New York and subsequently relocated the practice to Dublin. Completed projects include the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Giant’s Causeway Visitors’ Centre, and the refurbishment of the National Gallery of Ireland Historic Wings. Current projects include the Old Library redevelopment at Trinity College Dublin, Storm King Art Centre and a visitors’ centre at the Botanic Gardens Berlin.

ROWAN KILDUFF

BA French and Philosophy 2006, MA 2007

Rowan Kilduff is a mountain, hawk and wildlife enthusiast, author, poet, and activist-artist who has worked with Greenpeace, in forest conservation in the Czech Republic, and with The Irish Seal Sanctuary, among other organisations. He writes about rewilding, urban wildlife, and the role of art, poetry and creative works in recalibrating ourselves, His first poems were published in Rewilding Earth and his recordings are available on Soundcloud.

JANE MC ARDLE

BE Mechanical 2001 In May 2024,

Jane McArdle was appointed Director of Technical at SSE Renewables. Her role involves leading technical operations in renewable energy projects, driving sustainability and innovation and overseeing the implementation of renewable energy solutions. Jane has a 20-year career in the energy industry. She was previously Director of Engineering, Offshore Wind, at SSE Renewables and before that occupied other positions at SSE.

EMMA JANE JOYCE

HDipBs 2000, MMgt 2013, ProfDip Corporate Governance 2021

Emma Jane Joyce has been appointed Head of Sustainability at the National Treasury Management Agency where she leads the organisation’s work on sustainability and climate action. With over 15 years’ experience in the responsible investment industry, Joyce is at the forefront of practitionerled responsible investment integration for Ireland’s sovereign wealth fund and leads on RI/ESG strategy development and implementation across global and domestic multi-asset portfolios. Joyce sits on the Ireland steering committee of the CDP Global Environmental Reporting System.

ZOE KAVANAGH

BAgrSc 1994

Repak, which aims to enhance packaging recycling in Ireland, has appointed Zoe Kavanagh as its new CEO. She joins Repak after 13 years as CEO of the National Dairy Council. Repak has over 3,500 members, whose fees fund household recycling bins, bottle banks, civic amenities and commercial backdoor packaging waste nationwide. Since the organisation’s formation, packaging recycling and recovery has grown from under 15% in 1997 to an estimated 91% last year.

SUSAN MURPHY

BA History & Politics 1995, MA Politics 1997, PhD Politics & International Relations 2012

Dr Susan Murphy, Associate Professor of Development Practice at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Natural Sciences, has been awarded a European Research Council Starting Grant for her five-year project ‘Geoformations: Geographies of dynamic governance assemblages in development cooperation civil society spaces’. Murphy’s research interests include international development ethics, policy and practice, governance and justice, human rights and climate change, and gender and social inclusion.

LUCY GAFFNEY

BSc Microbiology 2001

Bio-scientist and entrepreneur Lucy Gaffney was appointed Executive Director at Business for Biodiversity Ireland (BFBI) in April 2024. Prior to this, at Natural Capital Ireland she led the development of a national business and biodiversity platform, an initiative funded by the Irish government, and in 2021 she established Wild Plan, a private consultancy which provides support to SMEs on their journey to nature-positive.

COLIN RYAN

BCL 1997, HDipBS 1998

Colin Ryan has been appointed Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer at tech company Qualcomm Incorporated. In his role, Ryan will have oversight of strategic planning, M&A, Qualcomm Ventures, and corporate business development. Ryan reports directly to Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. Prior to joining Qualcomm, Ryan spent more than 25 years at Goldman Sachs advising clients across the technology, media and telecom industries on strategy, corporate finance and M&A. In 2019 he was a UCD Alumni Awardee in Law.

DAVID HALPIN

BE Mechanical 2000, MEngSc 2002

David Halpin was appointed Vice-President Quality and HSE Aerospace Procurement, at Rolls Royce, Birmingham, UK in May 2024. Responsible for manufacturing both the electronic intelligence in a jet engine and critical mechanical and hydraulic systems, Rolls Royce is recognised as one of the world’s leading producers of engines for civil and corporate aircraft.

ISABEL GARVEY

BComm Int 1998

Isabel Garvey has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Warner Music UK. Garvey was most recently MD of London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios, where she expanded the studio and its brand, launching digital production services and establishing Europe’s first incubator for music tech innovation.

CONOR GALVIN

BSc Physiology 1996, PhD Zoology 2001, MBA 2009

Conor Galvin has been appointed CEO of Ornua, the Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of Ireland’s dairy processors. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products with annualised sales of over €3.4bn and a global workforce of 3,000 employees. Formerly Chief Executive of Dairygold Cooperative Society, Galvin, who is from a farming background, took up his role in May. He is a qualified accountant.

DONAL TIERNEY

BA Economics 1986, MBA 1993

Donal Tierney has been named Chair of NTR, the sustainable infrastructure investor and asset manager. He previously served as a director of NTR between 2000 and 2014. Tierney has 24 years’ experience as a CEO, and is current Chair of Bimeda, a global veterinary pharmaceuticals manufacturer and distributor. He also holds the role of Chair of Green Biofuels Ireland, operator of Ireland’s first and largest commercial-scale biodiesel processing plant.

LAM (LIAM) PHAM

MSc Project Management 2012

Lam (Liam) Pham has been named CEO of PC1 Australia, a new subsidiary of the PC1 Group. PC1 has a 60-year track record of success in Vietnam’s sustainable energy sector, and PC1 Australia offers a range of solutions – from steel products and electrical equipment, to design and project management services – for electrical grid and renewable energy projects to the Australian market. Pham is an expert in offshore wind supply in SE Asia with over 13 years’ experience in the sector in the region.

MATTHEW DOWLING

BComm 2002

Matthew Dowling has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer at Leinster Rugby. Dowling has over 20 years’ experience in sales and marketing and was most recently the Global Head of Creative and Digital Sales and Strategy at Novartis. Before that he worked at Amdocs, a global software and digital transformation company, as Head of Marketing for Western Europe. He is a lifelong Leinster supporter, and played competitively in school and in the AIL, with Terenure College.

SEÁN MOLLOY

BAgrSc 1994

Seán Molloy has been appointed CEO of Tirlán – formerly Glanbia – an independent, farmer-owned co-operative with over 2,300 employees making more than €2bn of milk and grain payouts annually. A director of Tirlán for the past 12 years, Molloy was previously Chief Ingredients and Agribusiness Officer, and has held a variety of roles within Glanbia since 2006. From a farming background, Molloy lives on the family farm in Co. Offaly.

SINEAD BAILEY

Exec MBA 2011

Sinead Bailey has been appointed Country Lead, Ireland, at global biopharma company Bristol Myers Squibb, having been with the company for more than a decade. Previously, Bailey worked in the FMCG sector with Nestlé, but a longstanding interest in improving human health saw her make the switch to the pharmaceutical industry. Though Bailey has a primary degree in industrial biochemistry, most of the roles she has held in pharma have been in sales and marketing.

SEÁN FARRELL

BAgrSc 1998, MSc Business (Leadership & Management Practice) 2021

Seán Farrell has taken up the role of Head of Business Banking at PTSB. Farrell will lead the bank’s ambitious growth strategy for the SME lending market, and aims to build on the platform established by its purchase of €165m performing micro-SME loans and the entire Lombard asset finance business from Ulster Bank earlier this year. Farrell previously held roles with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, Bank of Ireland, and ACCBank and is a specialist in SME lending.

NIAMH BRENNAN

BSc 1976, MSc Business and Executive Coaching 2021

Professor Niamh Brennan, the Michael MacCormac Professor of Management at UCD College of Business and the founder of UCD Centre for Corporate Governance, has been honoured by AACSB International – the world’s largest business education alliance – as one of the 2024 Class of Influential Leaders. The annual initiative recognises notable alumni and faculty whose work inspires positive change in the business world and society at large.

HUGH MC GUIRE

BSc 1990, MScAgr 1992

Hugh McGuire has taken up the role of Chief Executive Officer at nutrition group Glanbia plc. He has also joined the Glanbia Board as an Executive Director. McGuire originally joined Glanbia in 2003 and held a range of senior leadership roles across the group, residing in the US for nine years during the course of his career with the company. Most recently he was CEO of the company’s Glanbia Performance Nutrition division.

CHARLIE GLEESON

BComm 2019

Taxi and multi-mobility company FREENOW has appointed Charlie Gleeson as new General Manager of the Irish market. Previously, Gleeson was the CEO and founder of Irish micro mobility start-up Zipp Mobility, until it was acquired by Zeus Scooters earlier this year. In his new role, Gleeson will lead a team of over 35 people in Ireland, and oversee the rollout and expansion of the company’s services, including the delivery of new micro mobility options.

JOANIE HUGHES

BSc 1997

Joanie Hughes has joined Aviva Insurance Ireland as Managing Director and Chief Underwriting Officer of Personal Lines, its consumer businesses. Hughes was previously CEO of FNZ Europe and prior to that held a number of senior roles with Bank of Ireland (Head of Transformation, MD of insurance services and retail lead for strategic partnerships, and senior manager for mortgages). She has wide experience across the banking, technology, wealth, and insurance industries.

RICHARD BALL

MAcc 2003

Cairn Homes plc has announced the appointment of Richard Ball, a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, as Chief Financial Officer. Ball joined the company in April 2024, and was then appointed to the board as an Executive Director. Ball has over 18 years’ experience in the Irish property market, with extensive expertise in finance, capital markets, sustainability and investment. Most recently he worked with Urbeo Residential; before that, he was Chief Investment Officer at Hibernia REIT plc.

TARA FOLEY

BA Psychology 1991, MA Psychology 1995

Tara Foley has been appointed CEO of insurance company AXA UK and Ireland, which recently purchased Irish health insurance provider Laya. Prior to her appointment, she was CEO of AXA UK’s retail business. Before joining AXA in 2020, Foley worked mainly in the banking sector, in a variety of different roles with Lloyds Banking Group and Deutsche Bank. Foley’s primary degree was in psychology and she began her career as a consultant with Accenture.

SIOBHAN O’SHEA

BComm 1995

Siobhan O’Shea has been appointed President of Dublin Chamber. In the role she has put the spotlight on Dublin’s vulnerabilities, including housing, infrastructure, and the skills crisis, and cautioned against the danger of delaying Dublin’s growth by not addressing these crucial areas effectively. As Director of Scaled Business Success (EMEA/APAC) at Indeed, O’Shea leads a team of Global Directors to exceed revenue targets in markets including UK, Ireland, India, and Australia.

ASHLEY MC DONNELL

MSc International Management 2016

Based in Paris, PwC Businesswoman of the Year Ashley McDonnell has been appointed Global Consumer Acceleration Director with Puig. McDonnell works as a digital marketer within the world’s leading tech and luxury groups, describing her work as data-driven and strategy-focused. She is a board member of multiple start-ups and of Digital Business Ireland, and is the host of the podcast, Tech Powered Luxury.

NIAMH TALLON & MOHAMMED MAHOMED

BComm 2015, MSc Digital Marketing 2017 & BComm 2015, MAcc 2016

Niamh Tallon and Mohammed Mahomed, co-founders of Her Sport, are the recipients of a Changing Ireland Accelerator Award from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. Her Sport empowers and advocates for girls and women in sport. The organisation tackles gender disparity in sport by delivering educational workshops to schools, clubs and businesses, discussing barriers for women in sport and how to overcome them, and by creating daily media coverage to highlight and showcase women in sports.

TJ HEGARTY

BAgrSc 2017

Hating maths at school was the impetus for TJ Hegarty, founder and CEO of edtech company Breakthrough Maths, to seek to make maths easier to learn. This year the company hit revenues of €1.5m. Starting from the premise that education is stuck in the dark ages, Hegarty is changing the face of maths learning by making it data-driven and engaging, and by incorporating testing into live online classes. He likens his classes to a ‘Peloton of Maths’.

DAVID KELLY

BBLS 2003, LLM 2005

As CCO, COO, CFO and Chief People Officer respectively, key employees Kelly, Sorohan, McManamon and Rafferty share in the success of Cubic Telecom, which was close to attaining unicorn status at the end of 2023 when Japan’s SoftBank purchased a controlling 51% share in the company for €473m. Founded in 2005, Cubic develops mobility solutions for the internet of things (IoT), machine-to-machine and device-manufacturing companies. Its software is installed in millions of cars globally.

SARAH MC KENNA

BSc Biochemistry 2005

Sarah McKenna started her career in the pharmaceutical industry but after a disastrous DIY haircut just before her wedding day led her to try hair extensions, she turned her attention to the hair extension business, convinced that she could develop a better quality product. She started her first company, Vixen and Blush, in 2011 and subsequently opened two flagship stores in London. Her wholesale business is The London Hair Lab; this year together they hit turnover of more than £4m.

EMI TAKAKURA

BComm 2014

Emi Takakura grew up between Dublin and Tokyo and credits this cross-cultural upbringing as the inspiration behind her interest in food innovation. She founded hot chocolate company Spoond in 2021 and her second food venture, Slice of Life, which offers a range of nutritious, calorie-conscious pizzas, launched this year. Takakura’s BComm with Chinese Studies led to her starting her career as a finance intern with the Kerry Group in Shanghai. She subsequently worked with Jameson in Japan.

DERVAL O’ROURKE

BA Geography & Sociology 2003, HDipBS 2005, MMgt 2010

Three-time Olympian and world champion hurdler Derval O’Rourke has secured €200,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland for her new workplace wellbeing platform Saol, part of her Digital Health Resource company, co-founded with Greg O’Gorman, a former e-commerce director for the Kilkenny Design Group, which includes the consumerfocused Derval.ie website. The investment is part of an initial seed funding round of €400,000.

JENNIE HAIRE

BAgrSc 2017, MSc 2018

Named as one of The Irish Times People to Watch 2024, Jennie Haire is CEO and co-founder of Gigi de la Mer, a progressive female health brand on a mission to make symptom-free menstrual cycles the norm through sustainable, superior-quality supplements. Prior to establishing her own business, Haire spent four years at PwC Ireland working as a management consultant. She graduated from Smurfit Business School, where she was an Aspire Scholarship recipient, with a first class honours masters degree in Management Consultancy.

RACHEL HENNESSY

BComm 2012

Rachel Hennessy is the founder of Happy Days Fashion Rental, which launched in 2021 and aims to make secondhand and sustainable fashion more accessible and appealing than fast fashion. She was the Visa She’s Next Programme Winner 2023 and took home the award for Sustainable Business of the Year 2024 from Digital Business Ireland; she now sits on the organisation’s Advisory Board. Prior to setting up Happy Days, Hennessy worked as an accountant at PwC and Google.

SUSAN RAFFERTY

BBS 2008, ProfDip 2022

As CCO, COO, CFO and Chief People Officer respectively, key employees Kelly, Sorohan, McManamon and Rafferty share in the success of Cubic Telecom, which was close to attaining unicorn status at the end of 2023 when Japan’s SoftBank purchased a controlling 51% share in the company for €473m. Founded in 2005, Cubic develops mobility solutions for the internet of things IoT, machine-to-machine and device-manufacturing companies. Its software is installed in millions of cars globally.

SHANE SOROHAN

BComm 2001, MBS 2002

As CCO, COO, CFO and Chief People Officer respectively, key employees Kelly, Sorohan, McManamon and Rafferty share in the success of Cubic Telecom, which was close to attaining unicorn status at the end of 2023 when Japan’s SoftBank purchased a controlling 51% share in the company for €473m. Founded in 2005, Cubic develops mobility solutions for the internet of things IoT, machine-to-machine and device-manufacturing companies. Its software is installed in millions of cars globally.

DAVID MC MANAMON

MAcc 1997

As CCO, COO, CFO and Chief People Officer respectively, key employees Kelly, Sorohan, McManamon and Rafferty share in the success of Cubic Telecom, which was close to attaining unicorn status at the end of 2023 when Japan’s SoftBank purchased a controlling 51% share in the company for €473m. Founded in 2005, Cubic develops mobility solutions for the internet of things IoT, machine-to-machine and device-manufacturing companies. Its software is installed in millions of cars globally.

MR JUSTICE MICHAEL MAC GRATH

BCL 1981, LLM 1983

has been appointed an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal. Mr Justice MacGrath was called to the Bar in 1984 and to the Inner Bar in 2000. He was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 2018, and as a judge of the Special Criminal Courts in 2020.

MR JUSTICE JONATHAN DUNPHY

BBLS 1998

a sole practitioner at Jonathan Dunphy & Co Solicitors, and a member of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, has been appointed an ordinary judge of the Circuit Court.

MR JUSTICE DAVID NOLAN

BComm 1981

has been appointed a judge of the High Court. Mr Nolan was chairperson of the Bar Council from 2012 to 2014.

MS JUSTICE ÚNA NÍ RAIFEARTAIGH

BCL 1988

has been elected as Ireland’s new judge at the European Court of Human Rights. Ní Raifeartaigh previously served as a judge at the Irish High Court and the Court of Appeal, while also acting as a senior counsel, and a legal academic, with expertise in criminal law and the law of evidence.

MICHAEL O’FLAHERTY

BCL 1980

has been appointed the Council of Europe’s new Commissioner for Human Rights. Mr O’Flaherty will serve a six-year term after being elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

MS JUSTICE CAROLINE COSTELLO

BA History and Greek & Roman Civilisation 1982

has been appointed the next President of the Court of Appeal. Her appointment makes her the second most senior judge in the State. A History and Classics alumna, she was appointed a judge of the High Court in 2014 and the Court of Appeal in 2018.

SOFIYA KALINOVA

BCL 2018

In an important advance for inclusion and diversity in the legal profession, Sofiya Kalinova has made history as the first deaf barrister in Ireland. Kalinova, who uses Irish sign language, was called to the Bar by Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell. Kalinova won a previous challenge at the WRC after being told she would have to pay for her own interpreter to take part in a course to prepare students for the King’s Inns entrance exams.

JEANNE KELLY

BCL 1994, HDipEurL 1996

Solicitor Jeanne Kelly, founding partner at Browne Jacobson Ireland, has been elected president of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. BICC was founded in 2011 ahead of the historic visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland, and includes Barclays, Deloitte, KPMG, The Open University, Microsoft, ESB, UCD, and Zurich among its members. Kelly has over 25 years’ experience in commercial tech-law, advising private and public sector clients.

CAOILFHIONN GALLAGHER

BCL 1999

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC has been awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad from President Michael D. Higgins. The Award recognises the service given to Ireland or to Irish communities abroad by those who live outside Ireland. Gallagher has acted in many human rights, public law and media law cases, both in the UK and internationally, including a number of cases concerning the rights of the Irish in Britain. In 2017, she was a UCD Alumni Awardee in Law.

SIOBHÁN NÍ CHÚLACHÁIN

BCL 1993, LLM 1997

Barrister Siobhán Ní Chúlacháin has been appointed Director of Research at the Law Reform Commission of Ireland. Ní Chúlachaín has more than 20 years’ practice at the Bar in judicial review, criminal, extradition, and human rights law. As former co-chair of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights, she is committed to law reform

EDDIE CASEY

PhD Economics 2019

After nine years with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, where he was Chief Economist and Head of Secretariat, and during which time he completed his PhD on macroeconomics, Eddie Casey has taken up a position as a Loan Expert with the OECD. He is working in the Public Management and Budgeting division in the Public Governance Directorate. Dr Casey is also an Assistant Professor and Adjunct Lecturer at UCD where he lectures on European Economy.

AODHÁN Ó RÍORDÁIN

BA Irish & History 1997, ProfDip Corporate Governance 2017

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has been elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency. Ó Ríordáin is a member of the Labour Party and previously served as a TD. He was the party’s spokesperson on education and justice. A teacher by profession, Ó Ríordáin was a school principal in Dublin’s north inner city and worked in Irish language broadcasting, presenting a film review programme on TG4, before entering Dáil Éireann.

JAMES GEOGHEGAN

BA Politics and Sociology 2008

Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan has been elected the 356th Lord Mayor of Dublin. He was first elected to Dublin City Council in 2019, representing the Pembroke local electoral area, and was subsequently re-elected. Geoghegan has a Barrister-at-Law Degree from the Honorable Society of King’s Inns and has worked as a practising barrister for almost a decade. As a councillor he has been developing autism and neurodiversity-friendly initiatives in his community.

JOHN P. GILMORE

GradDip Nursing 2012, ProfCert 2022

Assistant Professor at UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, Dr John P. Gilmore has been appointed by the Minister of Further and Higher Education as the Chair of the Léargas Board. Léargas manages international and national exchange programmes in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training. It is the National Agency for Erasmus+ in Adult Education, School Education, Vocational Education and Training, Youth and Sport.

JOHN MORAN

BCL 1986

has become Mayor of Limerick, the first directly elected head of local government in Ireland. After taking the New York Bar, he qualified as a solicitor in Ireland. He was Secretary General to the Department of Finance from 2002 to 2004.

PROFESSOR CATHAL O’DONOGHUE

MA Economics 1995

has been appointed Chair of the Board of The National Museum of Ireland (NMI).

JENNIFER BANIM

ProfDip 2022

has been appointed Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the first woman appointed to the post.

RICHARD SHAKESPEARE

BAgrSc 1987, MEngSc 1991

has been promoted to CEO of Dublin City Council, having served as Assistant Chief Executive since May 2017. Prior to this, he worked with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for 18 years.

EMILY LOGAN

MBA 2002, Dip Mediation Studies 2004

is the new Police Ombudsman. Logan was Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children, and then Chief Commissioner for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. She is currently a commissioner of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission GSOC. GSOC is to be reconstituted as Fiosrú – the Office of the Police Ombudsman.

DR EBUN JOSEPH

PhD Social Policy, Social Work, Social Justice 2016

has been appointed Special Rapporteur for the National Plan Against Racism (NAPAR). Dr Joseph, a Nigerian-Irish lecturer who founded the first Black Studies university module in Ireland at UCD, will chair an Advisory Group on Racism and Racial Equality. NAPAR aims to acknowledge and address the impacts of racism.

ETHAN WAISBERG

MB BCh BAO 2023

Recent UCD School of Medicine alumnus Dr Ethan Waisberg won First Prize at the 18th Young European Scientists YES Meeting Breakthrough Competition held in Portugal for his work titled ‘Using Space Medicine Technology to Reduce Preventable Blindness’. The competition focused on the creation of an original, innovative, and applicable technological idea to solve problems relating to human diseases. Dr Waisberg also won the U21 Provost Award with his project, as well as the 2024 Verizon/ Unloc Young Entrepreneurs Challenge.

NADINE FARAH

MD 2012

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has appointed Professor Nadine Farah to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Professor Farah has been a consultant in The Coombe Hospital since 2010 and is currently a member of the hospital board. She was awarded her MD degree from UCD in 2012 for her research on maternal and foetal adiposity. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCD School of Medicine.

MARY HORGAN

MB BCh BAO 1986, MD 1995

Professor Mary Horgan has been appointed Chief Medical Officer. Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly has also announced that Professor Horgan will lead the design of a new emerging health threats agency which will focus on infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness, and emerging threats to public health. She is Professor of Infectious Diseases at UCD and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, and served two terms as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. She was the 2019 UCD Alumni Awardee in Health and Agricultural Sciences.

CECILY KELLEHER

MB BCh BAO 1980, MPH 1987

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has announced the development of a new National Rare Disease Strategy for Ireland, with a new National Rare Disease Plan Steering Committee tasked with developing this strategy to be chaired by Professor Cecily Kelleher. Patients and carers will be central to the development of the strategy. Professor Kelleher is Chair of Public Health Medicine and Epidemiology, and has been Principal of UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences since 2015.

FIONNUALA MC AULIFFE

MB BCh BAO 1991, DipCH 1993, MD 2001

Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe has been elected to the Executive Council of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, with member societies in 139 countries/territories, bringing together professional societies of obstetricians and gynaecologists on a global basis. This position gives Ireland a global voice in women’s health. Professor McAuliffe is Head of Women’s and Children’s Health at UCD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at National Maternity Hospital, Dublin and Director of the UCD Perinatal Research Centre.

GERALDINE MC CARTHY

MB BCh BAO 1981, MD 1994

The American College of Rheumatology and the Association of Rheumatology Professionals Membership and Awards Committee has presented Professor Geraldine McCarthy with a Designation of Master award, in recognition of her significant contribution to rheumatology research and medicine. The award is one of the highest honours that the College bestows on its distinguished members, and is conferred on members who have made outstanding contributions through scholarly achievement and/or service to their patients, students, and the rheumatology profession.

PROFESSOR DAVID BRAYDEN

BSc 1984, MSc Pharmacology 1985

is Professor of Advanced Drug Delivery at the School of Veterinary Medicine and a Fellow of UCD Conway Institute.

PROFESSOR NIALL ENGLISH

BE Chemical 2000, PhD Chemical 2004, GradCert University Teaching & Learning 2011

is a specialist on electric-field effects on materials, gases and liquids. He is a professor in UCD School of Chemical Engineering.

PROFESSOR BRIAN LAWLOR

MB BCh BAO 1980, DipCH 1983, MD 1991

is a leading figure in the field of dementia research and care. He is a member of the World Dementia Council, a founding director of the Global Brain Health Institute, and Conolly Norman Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

PROFESSOR CAITRIONA O’DRISCOLL

BSc Pharmacology 1976

is coordinator of the €5.4m Horizon Europe-funded GENEGUT project 2022–26. She is a professor in the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, and Director of Future Medicines, a research initiative.

DR TONY SCOTT

BSc Experimental Physics 1961, MSc 1962, PhD 1966

served for many years at UCD as an educator, researcher and academic leader. He cofounded in 1965 what is now the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

PROFESSOR PATRICK CLANCY

BA 1968, HDip Ed 1969, PhD 1979

was founding dean of UCD’s College of Human Sciences and is now Emeritus Professor of Sociology at UCD.

ELAINE PIDGEON

BSc Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics 2024

was one of nine mathematics students on the island of Ireland to be awarded the prestigious Hamilton Prize in October 2023 by the RIA. The date marks the anniversary of Irish scientist William Rowan Hamilton’s discovery of quaternion algebra in 1843.

SAMANTHA LIBRERI

BA English & Sociology 2003

Samantha Libreri has been appointed RTÉ’s Eastern Correspondent, covering Dublin, east Meath, north and east Kildare, and north Wicklow, and reporting on stories across a wide range of topics including politics, economics and culture. Libreri first joined RTÉ as a runner in November 2000, while studying English and Sociology at UCD. She was appointed a reporter in 2005, and has since presented some of RTÉ Radio’s flagship news programmes, including Morning Ireland and Drivetime.

NUALA MC GOVERN

BA English and Italian 1993

Nuala McGovern has been appointed to present BBC Radio Four’s Woman’s Hour. In her 20-year career, she has presented across the BBC network, and has reported from over 30 countries on many of the most important events in recent history, including as part of BBC radio’s ceremonial team, commentating at both the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III and as the lead presenter for the World Service at Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.

EILEEN MAGNIER

BA History and Politics 1982

Eileen Magnier has retired from RTÉ after 39 years with the broadcaster. The reporter was the station’s first female correspondent and served as NorthWest correspondent for the past 34 years. Magnier started off in RTÉ in 1985 as a junior reporter after having begun her career with People Newspapers in Wexford. Among the many stories she reported on was the Creeslough tragedy in 2022; she described this as one of the darkest days of her career.

NEIL JORDAN

BA History 1972

Writer and film director Neil Jordan has published Amnesiac: A Memoir. The autobiography covers his early life in Sligo and Dublin, working with Jim Sheridan at the Project Arts Centre and the making of his first feature film, Angel, in 1982 with Stephen Rea. The Company of Wolves and Mona Lisa followed and Hollywood also features with an Oscar for Best Screenplay for The Crying Game.

FERDIA LENNON

BA Greek & Roman Civilisation & History 2009

Ferdia Lennon’s debut novel Glorious Exploits, which opens in Syracuse, Sicily, in 412 BC, has been widely praised. In The Guardian, Killian Fox commended it as “immensely likeable” and “raucously funny”. After his studies at UCD, Lennon was awarded an MA in Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia. His short stories have appeared in The Irish Times and The Stinging Fly. He won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2024 for Glorious Exploits.

SARAH BINCHY

BA English & Spanish 1994

As editor of Sunday Miscellany: A Selection 2018-2023, published by New Island Books, Sarah Binchy took home the award for the Best Irish-Published Book of the Year at the 2023 An Post Irish Book Awards. Sunday Miscellany is an Irish institution, and this anthology includes contributions from authors such as Colm Tóibín, Niamh Campbell, Joseph O'Connor, Louise Kennedy, John F Deane, Susan McKay, Nicole Flattery and Manchán Magan.

CLAIRE COUGHLAN

BA Italian & English 2002, MA Creative Writing 2009, MFA 2014

Set in 1960s Dublin, Claire Coughlan’s acclaimed debut novel Where They Lie draws on her own years working on magazines and newspapers to craft a story about a young journalist investigating a cold crime. John Banville has described it as “a thrillingly dark and atmospheric tale, richly evocative of its time” and fellow crime writer Tana French says it is “not just a mystery novel: it’s a window into a vanished world”.

COLIN BARRETT

BA English 2003, MA Creative Writing 2009, MFA 2015

After publishing two acclaimed story collections, Young Skins (2013) and Homesickness (2022), this year Colin Barrett had his first novel, Wild Houses, published by Jonathan Cape. One of The Observer’s debut novels of 2024, the story is set in a fictional small town in Barrett’s native Co. Mayo. Wild Houses earned positive reviews and has been longlisted for the Booker Prize 2024.

ESTELLE BIRDY

BCL 1991, MA Creative Writing 2019

Estelle Birdy’s debut novel, Ravelling, set in and around the Liberties, where she raised her family, was published by Lilliput this year and has already been optioned by Sleeper Films for a TV series. Birdy worked in recruitment, HR, communications, website management and teaching before returning to UCD to take a masters in Creative Writing.

LEONA FORDE

ProfCert Innovation Academy 2018

Leona Forde is an English and History teacher from Bandon, Co. Cork. She wrote the first Milly McCarthy book, Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe, for her daughter, who wanted to read a Wimpy Kid-style story but not one set in the US or UK. This year saw the publication of the third Milly McCarthy book, Milly McCarthy and the Sports Day Shambles.

SUSANNAH GIBSON

BSc Experimental Physics 2004

Dr Susannah Gibson’s well-reviewed book, Bluestockings, tells the stories of the women who showed the world that they could be men’s intellectual equals, and could be paid for their literary work. Dr Gibson is an Affiliated Scholar of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and holds a PhD from Cambridge University.

FRANCIS MATTHEWS

BSc 2001, BArch 2004

After graduating with a first-class honours degree in architecture, Francis Matthews chose to pursue a career as an artist. In ‘INT./EXT.’, his fifth solo show at the Molesworth Gallery, his architectural background is evident in his paintings of a city devoid of people. Professor Hugh Campbell of UCD School of Architecture says Matthews “has made the emptied nocturnal city his own”.

DANIEL NELIS

MA Art History, Collections & Curating 2022

Daniel Nelis is a visual artist, art educator, and curator from Co. Donegal. A portrait of his father was recently selected for the National Portrait Gallery Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2024 and is on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London until October.

ALAN MEREDITH

BSc 2012, MArch 2015

Working mainly in oak from his studio in restored outbuildings on his family farm in Co. Laois, architect Alan Meredith produces pieces of sculptural furniture for both public and private clients and vessels which are stocked in galleries throughout Europe and in the US. His 2024 exhibition, ‘Quercu – The Oak’, brought together a new body of work, fusing separate but related ideas that the artist has been exploring in his practice for several years.

JAMES HANLEY

BA English & History of Art 1987

James Hanley is a member of the RHA, sits on the Board of Governors of the National Gallery of Ireland and is a member of Aosdána. Best known as a portrait painter, whose commissions have included presidents, archbishops and provosts, his recent ‘Recast’ exhibition at the RHA comprised a hundred drawings of statuary from his travels around Europe. A traditionalist with a sense of humour – a headless Apollo carries a mobile phone – Hanley has revealed himself to be a true original.

GABRIEL BYRNE

BA Spanish, Irish and Archaeology 1972, HDip Ed 1973

Actor, writer and director Gabriel Byrne has been named the recipient of the 2023 TK Whitaker Award at the Business & Finance Awards for his outstanding contribution and impact across the arts. The award was first established in 2016 and goes to those who have demonstrated a significant contribution to public service. Past recipients include former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and President Michael D. Higgins.

CAITRÍONA ENNIS

BA English & Drama Studies 2010, MA Drama & Performance Studies 2012

One of the theatrical highlights of the past year was the all-day, three-show Druid/O’Casey play-cycle of Sean O’Casey’s Dublin trilogy: The Plough and the Stars about 1916; The Shadow of a Gunman about the War of Independence; and Juno and the Paycock about the Civil War. As Minnie Powell in Shadow, Caitríona Ennis garnered rave reviews. The plays were staged in Galway, Belfast and Dublin, before being taken to the US

SEAN FINEGAN

BSc 2008, BArch 2011

As Foil, Arms & Hog, the comedy trio of an architect, a scientist and an engineer who met at UCD, Sean Finegan the comic foil, Conor McKenna all arms on stage and Sean Flanagan the hog, as in limelight have notched up over a billion views on YouTube. They sell out shows in Ireland and around Europe, including at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Sketch titles include ‘Learning to Drive with Your Parents’ and ‘Never Take An Irish Person Literally’.

CONOR MC KENNA

BSc Genetics 2008

As Foil, Arms & Hog, the comedy trio of an architect, a scientist and an engineer who met at UCD, Sean Finegan the comic foil, Conor McKenna all arms on stage and Sean Flanagan the hog, as in limelight have notched up over a billion views on YouTube. They sell out shows in Ireland and around Europe, including at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Sketch titles include ‘Learning to Drive with Your Parents’ and ‘Never Take An Irish Person Literally’.

SEAN FLANAGAN

BE Civil 2007

As Foil, Arms & Hog, the comedy trio of an architect, a scientist and an engineer who met at UCD, Sean Finegan the comic foil, Conor McKenna all arms on stage and Sean Flanagan the hog, as in limelight have notched up over a billion views on YouTube. They sell out shows in Ireland and around Europe, including at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Sketch titles include ‘Learning to Drive with Your Parents’ and ‘Never Take An Irish Person Literally’.

JESSICA TRAYNOR

MA Creative Writing 2008

UCD Creative Fellow Jessica Traynor is the 2024 recipient of the Field Day Tundish Award for contribution to the arts in Ireland, which was presented to her by Theo Dorgan and Stephen Rea. The award honours people who have made a significant contribution to the arts in Ireland. Traynor is the author of three poetry collections, Liffey Swim, The Quick, and Pit Lullabies. She is the 2023 recipient of the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award, and a previous winner of the Hennessy New Writer of the Year Award.

MARK BYRNE

BCL 1994, HDip Arts Administration 1995

As Group Head of Business Affairs at Element Pictures, Ireland’s most successful independent production company, Mark Byrne gets to share in the glory surrounding the success of the company’s feature film, Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone. The film received a host of Oscar and BAFTA nominations and won the Golden Globe for Best Picture alongside four Academy Awards and five BAFTAs. Byrne described attending the Oscars as “a slightly out-of-body experience”.

PÁDRAIC E. MOORE

BA Art History & English 2004

Pádraic E. Moore has been appointed Artistic Director of Ormston House, a resource centre for cultural workers of all disciplines in Limerick City. A writer, curator, and art historian, Moore holds postgraduate degrees from IADT, Dublin and Konstfack University, Stockholm and has a dynamic curatorial practice, having worked across multiple institutions both national and international. His vision for Ormston House involves developing an ambitious programme that will resonate with local, national, and international audiences alike.

CAELAN DORIS

BA Psychology 2020

Ireland and Leinster number eight, captained the Ireland team for the first time in the Six Nations Championship in 2024 and led the team to victory in the second of their two matches in South Africa in July.

HANNAH TYRRELL

BA Geography and History 2016, Professional Masters Education 2019

After an outstanding season, Dublin player Tyrrell was awarded the Gaelic Writers’ Association Ladies Football Personality of the Year in association with EirGrid – she kicked an incredible eight points in the All-Ireland final against Kerry.

CLARE MC MONAGLE

BBLS 2006, MAcc 2008

was appointed Chief Financial Officer for The British & Irish Lions Rugby team. She will travel with the team on the Lions Tour to Australia in 2025.

EILEEN GLEESON

MSc Coaching and Exercise Science 2016

was named Head Coach of Ireland’s women and girls’ football teams in 2023, succeeding Vera Pauw. Gleeson led a mighty victory against France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork in the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship qualifying group A.

FELIX JONES

BA Geography, Greek & Roman Civilisation 2008

former Munster and Ireland full-back, assumed a new role as Assistant Coach to England Rugby Head Coach Steve Borthwick in 2023.

PATRICK LENNON

BA 1971

is Chairman at London Irish Rugby Foundation in the UK. His book London Irish – 125 Years of Passion in Exile was awarded the Illustrated Book of the Year at the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards 2024.

Science and Life Science

Mark O'Neill

NIAMH BAMBRICK

EADAOIN MC LOUGHLIN

HELEN SHERIDAN

PADRAIG MC DONNELL

SHEILA PORTER

JACK REILLY

ANNA HEFFERNAN

Technology

ABEBA BIRHANE

PHILIP BROPHY

FERGAL MEEGAN & BARRY MURPHY

CONOR WALSH

NGOZI ELOBUIKE

PATRICIA MAGUIRE

MARTIN O’REILLY

DONNCHADH CASEY

KATE KILLEEN

MARK KELLY

ALISON DARCY

FERGAL REID

MIRIAM MURPHY

SANJAY ABRAHAM

DARRAGH WHELAN

JULIAN EBERLE

BRIAN CAULFIELD

Architecture

SHANE DE BLACAM

JOHN TUOMEY

RÓISÍN HENEGHAN

Sustainability

ROWAN KILDUFF

JANE MC ARDLE

EMMA JANE JOYCE

ZOE KAVANAGH

SUSAN MURPHY

LUCY GAFFNEY

Business

COLIN RYAN

DAVID HALPIN

ISABEL GARVEY

CONOR GALVIN

DONAL TIERNEY

LAM (LIAM) PHAM

MATTHEW DOWLING

SEÁN MOLLOY

SINEAD BAILEY

SEÁN FARRELL

NIAMH BRENNAN

HUGH MC GUIRE

CHARLIE GLEESON

JOANIE HUGHES

RICHARD BALL

TARA FOLEY

SIOBHAN O’SHEA

ASHLEY MC DONNELL

Entrepreneurship

NIAMH TALLON & MOHAMMED MAHOMED

TJ HEGARTY

DAVID KELLY

SARAH MC KENNA

EMI TAKAKURA

DERVAL O’ROURKE

JENNIE HAIRE

RACHEL HENNESSY

SUSAN RAFFERTY

SHANE SOROHAN

DAVID MC MANAMON

Law

MR JUSTICE MICHAEL MAC GRATH

MR JUSTICE JONATHAN DUNPHY

MR JUSTICE DAVID NOLAN

MS JUSTICE ÚNA NÍ RAIFEARTAIGH

MICHAEL O’FLAHERTY

MS JUSTICE CAROLINE COSTELLO

SOFIYA KALINOVA

JEANNE KELLY