SETU award honorary doctorates to Treacy and Riordan-Coppin
L-R: Derek O'Byrne, Vice President Academic Affairs, Teaching & Learning, Elizabeth Riordan-Coppin and John Treacy, honorary doctorate recipients, and Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU.
SETU bestowed two honorary doctorates on John Treacy and Elizabeth Riordan-Coppin on Thursday.
Mr Treacy, a 1984 Olympic marathon silver medallist, and Ms Riordan-Coppin, a Magdalene Laundry survivor and social activist, were recognised for their achievements in sports, civil life and human rights advocacy.
Mr Treacy, a native of Villierstown in West Waterford, said he was “truly delighted” to receive the award.
“It means so much to me to receive it in my home county,” he said.
Mr Treacy stands as one of Ireland’s most decorated athletes of all time, boasting world cross country titles from 1978 and 1979, and victories in the Los Angeles marathon in 1992.
That high-achieving lifestyle carried through to Treacy’s post-athletics career, becoming the first person to lead the Irish Sports Council in 1999. A departure from sporting life saw him chair Concern Worldwide from 2018-2022.
In 2023, he was appointed to spearhead the Port of Waterford company.
“It has been quite a journey from running in the Waterford colours, to representing Providence College, and eventually wearing the Irish colours at the Olympics Games,” Mr Treacy said.
“It was an honour to serve as the first CEO of the Irish Sports Council and Sport Ireland. Looking back to Paris last year and the incredible success of our athletes, we could never have imagined such results at the Olympic Games.
“What’s even more gratifying is seeing participation in sport grow across all levels, with opportunities now open to everyone, irrespective of ability.
“I have immense admiration for the people of Concern and their dedication in the field. And now, to be back in my home county chairing the Port of Waterford Company, I find myself once again surrounded by outstanding people committed to ensuring the Port’s success for the next 50 years.”
Ms Riordan-Coppin said the honorary graduate was “an unexpected and deeply moving experience”.
“Little did I ever imagine, I would return to Waterford on a voluntary basis, close to one of the Magdalene Laundries where I was once confined, to receive such a magnificent and prestigious award,” she said.
Ms Riordan-Coppin was born in St Columbanus’s County Home in Killarney, Co Kerry. At two years old, she became confined in the Magdalene Laundry system that included spells in Waterford.
A lifetime of advocacy for survivors culminated in a landmark case at the UN Committee Against Torture in 2020. It was the first case ever brought by a Magdalene survivor.
Her work has been credited with shaping public discourse and campaigns for survivor redress.
“This honour means recognition not only for me but for the thousands of women and girls trafficked by the State and their agents to Magdalene Laundries,” she said.
Ms Riordan-Coppin now lives in England, having rebuilt her life as a nursery nurse, teacher, and mother.
