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Michael
Flatley receives honorary doctorate degree from UCD - November 3, 2004
From
UCD press releases: UCD
Celebrates its 150th birthday in style as it honours all walks of life at a special
honorary degree ceremony
As a spectacular start to the
UCD 150th Anniversary, University College Dublin set the tone of the year-long
celebrations at a special honorary degree ceremony to give recognition to a wide
range of people who have made exceptional contributions to Irish society and have
had a significant impact on the world stage. The graduates were chosen as
their achievements reflect the theme of the UCD 150 celebrations - the unequalled
influence that UCD has had on the economic, social, political, scientific, literary,
academic and legal development of Ireland throughout the past 150 years, and the
continuation of this influence into the future. Being recognised for their
exceptional contribution to Irish society and their impact on the world stage
the following people received honorary degrees:
The Arts Michael
Flatley Dancer and entrepreneur
Imogen Stuart Sculptor
Eithne
Healy Chair of the National Theatre - The Abbey and supporter of the Arts
Anne Madden Artist
Humanitarian action and philanthropy Christina
Noble Founder of Children's Foundation in Vietnam and Mongolia
Lochlann
Quinn Industrialist and philanthropist
Academic and learning
excellence
Sir Derek Morris Provost of Oriel College
Prof
Garret FitzGerald University of Pennsylvania: world expert in pharmacology
of cardiovascular disorders
Prof Dr Wolfgang Meid Universitaet Innsbruck:
international expert in classical linguistics and celtic languages
Fr John
Dardis SJ Principal of the Jesuit Order in Ireland: advocate for refugees
in Europe and Joycean scholar
Socio-economic and political impact
David
Byrne European Commissioner
Bruce Morrison Former US congressman,
responsible for US Immigration Act 1990
Dr Pearse Lyons President of
Alltech: scientist, innovator and entrepreneur.
Charlie Bird RTE journalist
Niall O'Dowd Editor, Irish Voice, Irish America Magazine, and role
in peace process Sport Mick O'Dwyer Former Kerry
footballer
Kevin Heffernan Former Dublin footballer
Willie John
McBride Former Irish and Lions rugby international
Kevin Moran
International soccer and Manchester United player, former Dublin footballer. The
honorary graduation ceremony reflected the ethos of the University placing a strong
value, not just on academic achievement, but also on the creation of the holistic.
Click here for
the UCD webpage with further information for each graduate. •
• • Michael Flatley's bio from the UCD press office: Michael
Flatley learned his first dance steps from his grandmother Hannah Ryan at the
early age of four: and the empty front seat at his shows was a memorial to this
revered but departed figure. By the age of 17, he had become the first American
to win the World Irish Dance Championship as well as being named All Ireland Flute
Champion and winning a golden Gloves award for boxing. It was during a period
as the dance act with the traditional musical group The Chieftains that Michael
Flatley vitalised Irish dance, unleashing arms that had once been rigid. His
defining moment came in the Point Theatre, Dublin 1994, when he was commissioned
to provide the interval performance - a passionate and shrewd blending of flamenco
and the Hollywood musical. This marriage of the archaic and the avant-garde made
him and his partner Jean Butler the first international stars of Irish dance.
The full-length show called Riverdance won huge acclaim in Dublin and London in
the next year. Subsequently, Michael Flatley devised Lord of the Dance which
broke all attendance records at Wembley arena and at Radio City Music Hall. In
March 2000 he was named Irish-American of the year and his art was acclaimed by
Nelson Mandela. By then Lord of the Dance had sold over $500million worth of tickets
worldwide. His more recent show Feet of Flames has been seen by millions in Europe
from Budapest to Belfast. By the time of his retirement from the stage, he had
achieved the feat of executing 35 foot-taps per second. His life is a parable
of how in staying true to ethnic roots, Irish-Americans learned how to make an
art form that was revived in the 1980's go global in the 1990's and in demonstrating
the link between cultural self- belief and commercial success, Mr Flatley has
not forgotten the less fortunate, investing in many charities both here and in
the US. He is a dreamer who knows how to make wishes come true and in the fullest
sense of the term an Irish revivalist. • • •
Speaking after the ceremony which took place in the O’Reilly Hall
on the UCD campus Mr. Flatley said; “It was something I was not expecting,
which makes it an even greater honour. It’s fantastic. It’s just great
that it is here at UCD because it’s an Irish university. I’m very proud
to be here.” The very first fan sites for Riverdance and Lord of the
Dance were created by Joseph Meehan, who was attending UCD at the time. Hosted
on the student pages on the UCD server, Joseph's sites were a source of information
for the new fans of these dance shows, well before their official sites came online.
Mr. Meehan has kindly allowed the Celtic Cafe to archive these sites for Irish
dance posterity. Click on the following to see them. www.celticcafe.com/Riverdance/FirstSite www.celticcafe.com/LOTD/FirstSite How
appropriate that Michael Flatley, thanks to his creative efforts and talents,
would one day be honored in such a way on the very soil where his first Internet
exposure began, and which would reach such a multitude of fans worldwide.
• • • Feature:
Bernadette Price
Original
Web Design: Alexander Servas
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