Alumni engagement and philanthropy

Katie Melua, Dermot Desmond and Ciarán Hinds receive honorary degrees from Queen’s

Musician and singer Katie Melua, businessman Dermot Desmond and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two actor Ciarán Hinds, were among those to receive Honorary Degrees from Queen's this summer. 

Katie Melua, who lived in Northern Ireland for six years during her early childhood and had UK chart hits with Nine Million Bicycles (No.5, 2005) and Closest Thing to Crazy (No.10, 2003), was awarded a DLit (Mus) for services to music.

Financier Dermot Desmond was honoured for services to business and commerce. Having started his career in Citibank, he progressed to become a key figure in Irish financial life. His business interests include a majority shareholding in Celtic Football Club. Desmond is ranked by the Sunday Independent as the seventh-richest person in Ireland.

A former law student at Queen’s, Ciarán Hinds abandoned his original degree to study at RADA before embarking on a glittering acting career. Among his many credits are Road To Perdition, December Bride and as Julius Caesar in the popular BBC TV series Rome. He is currently creating menace as Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones and recently starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in a Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’ classic play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Among others honoured this year are the former Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and former Pro-Chancellor of the University, Sir David Fell, local man Mark Huffam, who is credited with producing Hollywood blockbusters including Saving Private Ryan, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and The Hours and the Irish Times columnist, literary editor, and drama critic Fintan O’Toole. 

Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Peter Gregson returned to Queen's to receive an LLD for services to the University and to Higher Education. Under his tenure, Queen’s joined the Russell Group and received two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher Education in 2006 and 2012, for work on for Northern Ireland's Comprehensive Cancer Services programme and for world-class achievement in green chemistry.

Professor Alice Brown, who has published widely on economic and labour market policy, equal opportunities, women and politics, Scottish politics and constitutional change, received a DSSc for services to education and social justice.She began her academic career teaching economics and later became Vice-Principal of the University of Edinburgh.

And the William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, Professor Henrietta Moore, was recognised for services to social sciences. Elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2007 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Professor Moore's many professional and public appointments include her membership of the Barbican Centre Trust, the
charitable arm of the Barbican Centre.

Queen's awards honorary degrees to individuals who have achieved high distinction or given significant service in one or more fields of public or professional life, and who serve as ambassadors for the University and Northern Ireland around the world.

The full list of honorary degrees awarded is as follows:

  • Katie Melua, DLit (Mus) for services to music
  • Professor Alice Brown CBE, DSSc for services to education and social justice
  • Dermot Desmond, DSc Econ for services to business and commerce
  • Sir David Fell, LLD for services to the University and distinction in public service and business and commerce
  • Professor Sir Peter Gregson, LLD for services to the University and to Higher Education
  • Ciaran Hinds, DUniv for distinction in film and drama
  • Mark Huffam, DUniv for distinction in film and drama
  • Professor Henrietta Moore, DSSc for services to social sciences
  • Fintan O’Toole, DLit for services to broadcasting

Brian O’Driscoll, one of the most internationally-recognised Irish rugby players of all time, will be honoured by Queen’s for services to sport in the December ceremonies.

Media inquiries to Claire O’Callaghan, Queen’s University Communications Office, tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5391 or email: c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk

 

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