This week NUI Galway announced that Burrenbeo Trust co-founder Brendan Dunford is one of four individuals to be conferred with Honorary Degrees at the 2018 Autumn Conferring. The four individuals to be conferred during the week of 15 October are: Catherine Corless, local historian, campaigner on behalf of survivors and deceased of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home; Sharon Shannon, internationally-recognised traditional Irish musician; Helen Rochford Brennan, activist for rights of people with dementia; and our own Brendan Dunford, biodiversity campaigner and founder of Burrenbeo Trust.
Speaking on the announcement, NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “NUI Galway is fortunate to be associated with many outstanding honorary graduates throughout its history and those being honoured this year form a particularly distinguished group. Each one has made an outstanding and distinctive contribution in their field. In honouring these exceptional individuals, we signal what we value in areas that matter to us and to our society – local history, disability rights, music and environmental sustainability. NUI Galway is very pleased to be in a position to recognise these exceptional individuals. Each of those we honour also have a special bond with our region – drawing on the unique experiences, strengths and challenges with which we as a University also engage – history, environment, social policy and creative arts. On behalf of NUI Galway I am delighted to honour them and their achievements in this way.”
In making the announcement, NUI Galway described Brendan’s achievements in this way: “Brendan Dunford has been instrumental in re-invigorating biodiversity within the Burren through his initiative around Burren LIFE and the Burren programme. He has applied science to a societal problem of biodiversity and heritage loss, working with communities to produce more sustainable food systems. He was an instigator of The Burrenbeo Trust – a landscape charity dedicated to connecting all of us to our places and highlighting our role in caring for them.”
Congratulations Brendan, from all the team at Burrenbeo Trust and all our members!