Chuck Feeney, founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies, pictured receiving his honorary doctorate of laws (LLD), conferred by the universities of Ireland, North and South, with former Ireland president Mary Robinson, chancellor of the University of Dublin
The universities on the island of Ireland today came together to jointly confer an honorary doctorate of laws (LLD) on the philanthropist Chuck Feeney for his contribution to Irish society, particularly Irish universities.
It was the first time such an honour was conferred jointly by all the universities on the island of Ireland.
The universities that honoured Feeney today were Dublin City University; National University of Ireland; National University of Ireland, Galway; National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Queen’s University Belfast; Trinity College Dublin; University of Dublin; University College Cork; University College Dublin; University of Limerick; and University of Ulster.
Feeney, an Irish-American billionaire, founded the charitable organisation The Atlantic Philanthropies in 1982. Since then he has given more than €1.25bn to projects on the island of Ireland.
Science Foundation Ireland chair Dr Patrick Fottrell said this afternoon that Feeney has donated almost €800m to Irish universities.
