The conferring of an Honorary Doctorate of a University
on any graduate is a singular honour which is deservedly treasured by the
recipient and his or her family. Each year UCD awards a limited number of these
distinctions only to graduates who have made an outstanding contribution to
society in their chosen profession.
There was no award made to an Engineer in 2013. In 2014,
UCD decided to honour an exceptional Engineer - Dr Liam Connellan. I first got
to know Liam in Engineers Ireland as a very active senior engineer in the late 1990s as an active
contributor to lectures and debates long after he retired as Chief Executive of
IBEC (formerly the Confederation of Irish Industry when Liam joined). His
committment to helping to grow the Irish economy and create jobs was obvious. He
also appeared to have boundless energy and abiding interest in a whole range of
engineering endeavours.
 |
| UCD President, Dr. Andrew Deeks presenting Dr. Liam Connellan with the award |
It was only when he became President of Engineers Ireland
(then the Institution of Engineers of Ireland) in 2001 that I learned of his
leadership skills and his motivational speeches to a wide audience quoting the
global greats like JFK to great effect. I recognised an exceptionally gifted
communicator whose passion and commitment for his message engaged easily with
his audience.
 |
| Liam Connellan, President of Engineers Ireland (2001-2002) |
He then became in turn and sometime simultaneously President of the Irish Academy of
Engineering, President of the Royal Dublin Society, Chairman of the National
Roads Authority and Chairman of Voelia (Transport Energy Water) who built and
run the Luas light rail network. He is an active member of the Board of the Peter McVerry Trust
which assists homeless young men. The common thread running through all of this
is his committment to an efficient but just society and to a growing Irish
economy through the provision of essential public infrastructure in transport,
energy and water.
On the international front he was on the Board of the
Irish College in Paris and President of the German Irish Chamber of Industry
and Commerce. In terms of kinship with both of the great European powers there
are few Irish people (if any) who have been awarded Knight Commander's Cross of
the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and also Chevalier of the
Order of Merit of the Republic of France! Liam has both distinctions but they
sit lightly on his shoulders for Liam is a humble man always concerned about
everyone else's well being and not his own.
After I became EGA President I was pleased to award the 2013 UCD EGA Distinguished Graduate Award to Liam Connellan which had been long overdue in my view. Looking back now over the years, I don't believe that I
ever sought any other role model in my career other that the example of public
service and the care of others that Liam sought. I was therefore deeply
honoured to have been personally invited to his Conferring last Monday and to the celebratory dinner hosted by the President in his
honour in Ardmore House Belfield. There I sat with his wife Marie and his
lovely and talented family who rightly feel so proud of him as all members of
the profession also feel those who are privileged to know him. He is a true icon of Irish Engineering.
 |
| Incoming Dean of Engineering (post September 1st 2014), Prof. David Fitzpatrick, UCD President, Prof. Andrew Deeks, Dr. Liam Connellan and UCD Dean of Engineering (pre September 1st 2014), Prof. Gerry Byrne |
