The "immense contribution" of Dr Don Thornhill to education in Ireland was acknowledged yesterday as he received an honorary degree from the National University of Ireland, writes Seán Flynn, Education Editor.
Dr Thornhill is a former secretary of the Department of Education and a former chairman of the Higher Education Authority.
In the citation, Dr John Hughes, president of NUI Maynooth, said Dr Thornhill's "huge stature" among senior government figures played a pivotal role in facilitating unprecedented investment into research at third level.
He said the successful partnership between the Government and Atlantic Philanthropies (the vehicle of Irish-American billionaire Chuck Feeney) owed much to to the skill of Dr Thornhill.
Dr Hughes said: "He was able to convince the Department of Finance of the benefits of Atlantic's support for basic research in Ireland. Without this, it would have been very difficult for Atlantic and the Government to reach agreement."
Other recipients of honorary degrees yesterday included businesswoman Margaret Heffernan, sports writer Eugene McGee, historian Margaret McCurtain, former TD Paddy Harte and musician Hugh Tinney.