Former President Michael D Higgins recognised at special ATU conferring ceremony in Letterfrack
Former President Michael D.Higgins and design pioneer Mary V Mullin were honoured by ATU with a Doctorate as university celebrates cultural and design leaders
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has conferred honorary doctorates on former Irish President Michael D Higgins and renowned design pioneer Mary V. Mullin during a special ceremony at its Connemara campus in Letterfrack.
The honorary awards were presented on Friday, June 19, in recognition of the pair’s exceptional contributions to Irish public life, culture, education and design.
Former President Higgins, who served as Ireland’s ninth President from 2011 to 2025, was honoured for his lifelong commitment to public service, human rights, literature, creativity and social inclusion.
Throughout his career, he combined political leadership with a celebrated body of work as a poet, writer and cultural advocate.
Among his many achievements, Michael D Higgins is credited with helping to revitalise Ireland’s film industry during his tenure as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, while also playing a key role in the establishment of TG4 and supporting the development of cultural infrastructure across the country.
Meanwhile, Mary V Mullin was recognised for her pioneering influence on design education and cultural development in Ireland and internationally. Her career began at the Kilkenny Design Workshops in 1968 before she went on to play a founding role in what is now the Design & Crafts Council Ireland.
She later became the first Irish person and first woman elected to the board of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, serving as Vice President and helping shape international design policy.
Mullin also played a significant role in the development of Letterfrack’s renowned furniture design programme. A report she produced in 1985 for Connemara West directly led to the establishment of the Furniture College in Letterfrack, now part of ATU, helping to position the campus as a centre of excellence in furniture design and craftsmanship.
ATU President Orla Flynn said the university was proud to recognise two individuals whose work has had a lasting impact on Irish society.
“President Michael D Higgins represents the very best of public service, intellectual leadership and creative expression. His lifelong dedication to the arts, social justice and the idea of an inclusive republic aligns deeply with the mission and values of Atlantic Technological University,” she said. “Mary Mullin’s immense contribution to Irish design will also resonate far into the future.”
Chair of ATU’s Governing Body, Maura McNally, described the conferring as a significant occasion for the university.
She praised President Higgins for his long-standing support of education and students, including his contribution of storm-felled timber from Áras an Uachtaráin that inspired student design projects, including the presidential inauguration chair.
The ceremony brought together students, staff, alumni and invited guests at the Connemara campus and highlighted ATU’s commitment to creativity, innovation and cultural leadership across the West of Ireland.