The President, Mrs McAleese, was today conferred with anhonourary degree by the Metropolitan University in Manchester. It was the second day of her two-day official visit to Manchester and Salford.
The doctorate - doctor of laws - was conferred on her in recognition of her services to legal education, equality and social inclusion at a ceremony at All Saints campus.
The President said she was deeply honoured to receive the honorary degree. She praised the university for theexcellence of its professional and vocational disciplines.
She said: "It is deeply reassuring to note that Manchester Metropolitan University has numerous and long-standing links with Ireland whether through its student body, or the numerous Irish academics associated or through the partnership which you have fostered with Irish institutions such as the University of Limerick and the Dublin Institute of Technology."
Today's events, Mrs McAleese said, added a further strand to Ireland's connection to the university.
The President is to attend a Chamber of Commerce lunch in Manchester before she comes home this evening.