Mayo men admitted to Royal Irish Academy

Mayo men admitted to Royal Irish Academy


TWO Mayo men have been conferred with the honour of admittance to the Royal Irish Academy.
Knock native Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle and Foxford native Dr Noel Dorr were inducted at a ceremony in Dublin recently.
Dr Ó Muraíle, Senior Lecturer in the School of Irish at NUI Galway, was lauded for his contribution to the study of Irish genealogies through his edition and translation of Leabhar Mór na nGenealach or “The Great Book of Irish Genealogies”, which has been described as one of the most unique contributions to Irish history ever.
Election to the Royal Irish Academy is the highest honour available to a scholar working on the island of Ireland.
Dr Noel Dorr was also admitted as a Member of the RIA. Dr Dorr is Chair of the NUI Galway Governing Authority and former Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs (1987-1995). He received an honorary doctorate from NUI Galway in 2001.
He is considered one of the most outstanding civil servants in the history of the state.
Both Mayo men are able to list St Nathy’s of Ballaghaderreen as their alma matter.
Dr Ó Muraíle and Dr Dorr now join an exclusive band of people on the Royal Irish Academy.
In existence for 224 years, it is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences.
Among the membership of the Academy are many of Ireland’s leading scholars, the best known of whom include: Professor Seamus Heaney, Nobel Laureate; Professor Patrick Cunningham, geneticist and the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser; Professor Frances Ruane, economist; Dr Garret FitzGerald, economist and former Taoiseach; and Dr Peter Harbison, archaeologist.