Courses
Former President Michael D. Higgins and Mary V. Mullin received Honorary Doctorate at ATU ceremony
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) conferred an honorary doctorate on former President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and design pioneer, Mary V. Mullin at a special ceremony that took place on Friday (19 June) at 2.30pm on its Connemara campus in Letterfrack.
The award recognised President Higgins’ exceptional contribution to public life, culture, literature and human rights over several decades, as well as his enduring commitment to creativity and inclusive citizenship. A second honorary doctorate was also conferred on distinguished design leader Mary V. Mullin, in recognition of her lifelong impact on design education and cultural development in Ireland and internationally.
Michael D. Higgins, who served as Ireland’s ninth President from 2011 to 2025, was first inaugurated on 11 November 2011 and was re-elected in 2018 with a historic first-preference vote in every constituency. Born in Limerick in 1941 and raised in County Clare, he combined political leadership with a parallel career as a poet and writer.
President Higgins’ political legacy included his tenure as Minister for the Arts from 1993 to 1997, during which time he was credited with revitalising the Irish film industry, establishing Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4), and advancing broadcasting reform. His work also facilitated the development of a nationwide network of cultural venues and championed access to the arts.
Speaking at the conferring, ATU President Dr Orla Flynn said the university was honoured to recognise two figures whose influence shaped Irish cultural and civic life:
President Michael D. Higgins represents the very best of public service, intellectual leadership and creative expression. His lifelong dedication to the arts, to social justice and to the idea of an inclusive republic aligns deeply with the mission and values of Atlantic Technological University. Mary Mullin’s immense contribution to Irish design will also resonate far into the future, and it is a privilege for ATU to recognise both extraordinary legacies at our campus here in Connemara.
Also honoured, Mary V. Mullin was recognised as a pioneering force in design education and cultural policy. Her career began in 1968 at the Kilkenny Design Workshops, where she worked alongside founder William Walsh in an initiative that left a lasting imprint on Irish craft and design.
Mullin went on to play a founding role in what is now the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. Her influence extended internationally through her work with the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (now the World Design Organisation), where she became the first Irish person and the first woman elected to its Board, later serving as Vice President. She also contributed to the development of the Interdesign Programme across Europe and the Americas.
Her leadership continued as Secretary General of the International Council of Graphic Design for fourteen years, and as Founding Director of the National Centre for Culture and Arts, now the Irish Museum of Modern Art. In the 1980s, she established a London-based consultancy, working with institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum and the Design Museum.
Mullin’s connection to ATU Connemara was particularly significant. Her 1985 report for Connemara West directly led to the establishment of the Furniture College in Letterfrack, now part of ATU, embedding international design expertise from its inception.
Chair of ATU’s governing body, Maura McNally, said the conferring marked a significant moment for the university:
“We are profoundly grateful to President Higgins, not just for his advocacy, but for his tangible contributions to our students. From gifting storm-felled timber from the Áras to inspire iconic student creations like the presidential inauguration chair, he truly embodies how education can elevate an individual to lift up entire communities around them” She added, “It is a distinct honour to welcome President Higgins back to celebrate his outstanding contributions to our society, culture, education, and art. He is the ultimate embodiment of a true Irish patriot and gentleman, and it is with great pride that we confer upon him this honorary doctorate in recognition of his lifetime of leadership on the global stage.”
The ceremony drew students, staff, alumni and invited guests to the Connemara campus, celebrating both the achievements of the awardees and the role of ATU in fostering creativity, innovation and cultural leadership in the west of Ireland.
It also marked a significant moment for the university as it continued to build on its regional roots while engaging with national and international figures who have helped shape Ireland’s cultural and intellectual landscape.
Featured photo: (L-R) Dr Billy Bennett, ATU Registrar and Chief Academic Officer, Michael D Higgins, Former President of Ireland, Mary V. Mullin, Founder member of the Crafts Council of Ireland, Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President and Maura McNally S.C., Chair of Governing Body (photo credit: Eamon Ward).
Photo 1: Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, Michael D Higgins, Former President of Ireland, Dr Billy Bennett, ATU Registrar and Chief Academic Officer (photo credit: Eamon Ward).
Photo 2: Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, Mary V. Mullin, Founder member of the Crafts Council of Ireland, Dr Billy Bennett, ATU Registrar and Chief Academic Officer (photo credit: Eamon Ward).
For media enquiries, contact:
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Tel: 086 086 6913
E: aidan.haughey@atu.ie
