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ALUMNI | Awards 2008


Alumni Awards 2008

Former Senator Mary Henry M.A., M.B. (1963), RTE’s Morning Ireland presenter, Áine Lawlor B.A. (1982), Chairman of Education Media and Publishing Group (EMPG), Barry O’Callaghan LL.B (1991), and renowned Irish author William Trevor B.A. (1950), were the four recipients of Trinity College’s Alumni Awards, which were presented at a gala dinner in Trinity College on 30 October 2008.

Selected by a committee chaired by Thomas Mitchell M.A. (j.o.), Litt.D., F.T.C.D (1980), the recipients were presented with awards in recognition of achievements in their respective fi elds and for the contribution that they have made both at home and abroad.

About The Awardees

Mary Henry

Dr Mary Henry is currently Chair of the TCD Association and Trust and a Trinity Foundation Board Member. As an independent Senator (1993 – 2007), Mary was especially passionate about medical and social issues. Mary sits on several prestigious boards in the healthcare sector, including those of the Rotunda and Peamount hospitals. Mary served as the fi rst Chairperson of the Irish Penal Reform Trust and currently serves on the Commission for Restorative Justice. She is also a patron of One Family, the organisation for lone parents and their families.

(Photo of Mary Henry)

Áine Lawlor

Áine Lawlor joined RTÉ in 1984 as a trainee journalist, working on a number of radio and television programmes before becoming a reporter/presenter in 1988. She has worked on The Pat Kenny Show, Today at 5, RTÉ 2fm News and a variety of television programmes. She joined the Morning Ireland team in 1996 is now one of RTÉ's most seasoned broadcasters as well as one of Ireland's most recognised voices. Áine’s interest in current affairs was encouraged by her experiences as a student in Trinity. While in College, Áine was actively engaged in student life and was President of the Students’ Union.

(Photo of Áine Lawlor)

Barry O’Callaghan

Barry O’Callaghan is Chairman and the largest shareholder of Education Media and Publishing Group (EMPG). In 1999, he became CEO of Riverdeep, which, under his leadership, became a leading global publisher of interactive products for the education industry. Barry took the company public on the NASDAQ and Irish Stock Exchanges in 2000 and also managed the subsequent acquisition and integration of seven leading educational companies. Riverdeep merged with Houghton Miffl in and Harcourt in the second and fourth largest transactions in Irish corporate history to create the largest school publisher in the world.

(Photo of Barry O’Callaghan)

William Trevor

During a writing career spanning over 40 years, William Trevor has written 30 books including The Old Boys (1964), Fools of Fortune (1983), The Story of Lucy Gault (2002). William is the author of several collections of short stories, including The Day We Got Drunk on Cake (1967) and Beyond the Pale (1981). Among his many honours, William Trevor was awarded an honorary KBE in 2002 for his services to literature and the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award in Irish Literature in 2008. Dr Trevor was honoured with a Doctor in Letters from College in 1986.

(Photo of William Trevor)


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