Gowns and mortarboards were much in evidence at the recent conferring of three distinguished men, honoured at NUI Maynooth with honorary degrees.

The degrees were conferred on Donegal poet Cathal O Searcaigh; Canadian professor of English William Hugh Kenner and Australianeducationalist Professor Malcolm Skilbeck. Prof Skilbeck has recently been involved in HEA research on improving third-level access in Ireland.