Five people who have left an indelible mark in various guises on Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and its students have been made inaugural Fellows of the Institute at an honours ceremony in the city.
Among the five were three Limerick Fellows – LIT academic Patricia Burke, former Governing Body Chairman John Clifford and acclaimed artist and graduate of the LIT operated Limerick School of Art & Design John Shinnors. They joined with Fitzgibbon Cup coach Davy Fitzgerald and former Acting CEO of the then Tipperary Institute (now operated by LIT as LIT Tipperary) Luke Murtagh as they were bestowed with the highest honour the institute can give in recognition of their contribution to education, enterprise, sport, the arts and sciences.
The Fellowships were presented at a special ceremony at the Clare Street campus of Limerick School of Art & Design on Thursday night attended by over 200 people, including family and friends of the newly appointed Fellows.
The Fellowships were formally presented by LIT President Dr Maria Hinfelaar after citations were read out by associates. Former GAA President Sean Kelly, MEP, read the citation for Davy Fitzgerald; Councillor Mary Jackman read the citation for John Clifford; Virginia Teehan, Director of Cultural Projects, College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, University College Cork read for John Shinnors; Niall Greene, Chairman of the LIT Governing Body, for Luke Murtagh while past President of LIT Vincent McCarthy returned to read Pat Burke’s.
Speaking at the presentation of the Fellowships, Dr Maria Hinfelaar said that the five recipients are worthy of being the inaugural Fellows of LIT.
“It has been our intention for some time to initiate a Fellowships programme at Limerick Institute of Technology and it is fair to say that the inaugural Fellows were well chosen. Each of the five has made an enormous contribution to Limerick Institute of Technology as it is today.
“They have given extraordinary leadership through what they have done for LIT and, indeed, in their own professional careers and personal lives. As an Institute, we put people, our students and staff, at the centre of everything we do and our five Fellows tonight embody that ethos brilliantly.
“They have each been inspirational to us and, indeed, many others. We have marvelled at what they have done and LIT has, indeed, been all the better because of their association with us. We are proud and, indeed, fortunate as an institute to have had that association and long may this relationship continue and flourish.”
