Eleven community leaders from Dublin's inner city have been conferred with honorary fellowships from the National College of Ireland for promoting further education and making outstanding contributions to their local communities.
The fellowships acknowledge the significant contribution of each "unsung hero" in promoting access to education, employment, social inclusion, childcare, drug rehabilitation and youth projects. The college's mission is to promote access to education. It is involved with a number of community initiatives to attract potential students living in the area.
The recipients represent their local communities on the council of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, the Government-appointed group focusing on the area's regeneration.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern addressed the conferring ceremony yesterday. "Our 11 fellows have each made unique but equally important contributions to the development of Irish society and in particular to the development of the docklands community. Each one has contributed selflessly and with distinction."
Mr Ahern paid tribute to the National College for its strategic promotion of education in the local community.
The recipients were Betty Ashe and Dolores Wilson, St Andrew's Resource Centre; Seánie Lambe, Inner City Organisations Network; Geraldine O'Driscoll, North Wall Women's Centre; Gerry Fay, North Wall Community Association; Frances Corr, Bath Avenue and District Residents Association Ltd; Willie Dwyer, Mairéad Ní Chíosóig and Paul Dolan, all East Wall Community Council; Anne Carroll, Ringsend and Irishtown Community and Charlie Murphy, Rinn Development Initiative.
Mr Lambe, who works around Gardiner Street and Seán McDermott Street, accepted the fellowship on behalf of all working in the Inner City Organisations Network.
"Education is critical, people cannot take advantage of our economy unless they can access education," Mr Lambe said. "Our work with the college has been hugely beneficial."
Ms O'Driscoll, who promotes adult education with the North Wall Women's Centre, said the conferring highlighted that colleges "should not be seen as ivory towers".