Sr Agnes Fitzgerald, pictured accepting an honorary doctorate on behalf of her sister and founder of Cuan Mhuire, Sr Consilio, from President Prof. Maggie Cusack and Mary Fitzgibbon of Munster Technological University at its Kerry Campus conferring ceremony in Tralee on Friday. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD ©MUNSTER Technological University (MTU) has conferred honorary doctorates on Cuan Mhuire founder Sister Consilio and former Government minister Jimmy Deenihan, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Irish society, community development and public service.
The awards were presented at MTU’s autumn conferring ceremonies held at MTU Kerry North campus in Tralee.
Sr Consilio was honoured for her lifelong dedication to helping others and her pioneering work in establishing Cuan Mhuire in Athy in 1966. Over six decades, the organisation has expanded to provide services across Ireland, supporting people affected by addiction and their families.
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Raised in the parish of Brosna, Sr Consilio (then Eileen Fitzgerald) trained as a nurse in Cork before joining the Sisters of Mercy in Athy. Her work has been recognised through numerous honours, including Kerry Person of the Year and the Oireachtas Human Dignity Award.
As Sr Consilio was unable to attend the ceremony, the honorary doctorate was accepted on her behalf by her sister, Sr Agnes Fitzgerald.
Former Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Kerry North TD, Jimmy Deenihan, pictured receiving an honorary doctorate from President Prof. Maggie Cusack, Munster Technological University, at its Kerry Campus conferring ceremony in Tralee on Friday. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD ©Jimmy Deenihan, a native of Finuge, taught at Tarbert Comprehensive School before entering national politics.
He served in Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann and held ministerial roles in agriculture, arts and heritage, and diaspora affairs. He also supported the development of higher education in Kerry, helping to secure funding for the building that is now MTU’s Kerry South Campus in Tralee.
Mr Deenihan chaired MTU’s Governing Body from 2021 to 2025, following the University’s establishment. His honorary doctorate recognises a record of service that has continued through his involvement in local organisations since leaving political life.
Professor Maggie Cusack, President of Munster Technological University, said: “Sister Consilio and Jimmy Deenihan have each made a lasting contribution to Irish society. For 60 years, Dr Sister Consilio’s pioneering work through Cuan Mhuire has offered support and hope to people facing addiction.”
“Dr Deenihan has championed education and community development and helped guide MTU through its first years as Chair of our Governing Body. Both have demonstrated a commitment to creating opportunities and making a positive impact in people’s lives, values that we are very proud to recognise today.”
Sr Consilio said: “I am honoured to receive this recognition from Munster Technological University. When I founded Cuan Mhuire 60 years ago, my hope was to create a place where people struggling with addiction could find compassion, understanding and the opportunity for a new beginning. What has been achieved since then has only been possible through the dedication of so many people who have worked alongside me, and the courage of those who have come to us for help. I accept this honour with great gratitude on behalf of everyone who has been part of that journey.”
Jimmy Deenihan said: “Having represented Kerry on the football pitch, in Leinster House and around the cabinet table, I have always wanted to contribute to the county’s future. Supporting the development of higher education here, and later chairing MTU’s Governing Body through the university’s first years, has been a particularly rewarding part of that work. I am delighted to share this occasion with graduates who will carry that contribution forward.”
“As Ireland’s first Minister for the Diaspora, I saw the strength of the connections that link Kerry with people around the world. I believe MTU can be a bridge between that global community and our county and region, turning goodwill into bursaries for students, new collaborations and wider economic, social and cultural opportunities. I look forward to drawing on my own international contacts to support that ambition and advocate for MTU’s continued growth and success across the South West.”
