ONE of Ireland’s most acclaimed actresses and a two-time Grammy-winning artist were awarded honorary doctorates by University of Limerick.
Ruth Negga and Rhiannon Giddens were conferred with the institution’s highest award at a ceremony in UL’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.
They were conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by UL’s Chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan at an event attended by their family, friends, and invited guests.
In his conferring address, UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins hailed “two extraordinary artists whose contributions to music, film, theatre, and culture have resonated across Ireland and the world”.
“Today, we recognise not just the excellence of their craft, but the spirit, bravery, and integrity with which they practice it.
“Artists such as Rhiannon and Ruth do more than inspire admiration; they expand the horizon of what is possible for our students. Rhiannon’s residency at the Irish World Academy over the past four years has enlivened our campus, shaped curricula, and supported students in profound ways.
“Her recent support for a scholarship fundraising concert further demonstrates the generosity she extends to the next generation of musicians and creatives.
“Ruth, through her global success, shows our students, especially those from Limerick, that their stories, their talent, and their heritage have a place on the world stage. Her career models artistic discipline, integrity, and ambition in equal measure.
“These are not abstract benefits. They change lives. They shape dreams. They expand opportunity.”
The UL president said that “the honorary doctorate is among the highest distinctions a university can bestow. In awarding it, we are not only recognising the exceptional achievements of two remarkable individuals, but we are also recognising the broader contribution of the arts”.