NUI Galway has conferred an honorary masters degree on Connacht Tribune editor John Cunningham for his contribution to civic society.
The National Library of Ireland's keeper of collections, Donal Ó Luanaigh, also received an honorary masters at NUIG yesterday for his "immense contribution to research and scholarship".
Cunningham has been editor of the Connacht Tribune since 1984, having joined as a reporter in the 1960s. The university said he has maintained a "consistent and steady presence in Irish journalism" in that role and as a commentator on RTÉ current affairs programmes. He has also been a lecturer on the university's journalism course for the past 18 years.
Bernadette O'Sullivan, director of NUIG's department of journalism, described him yesterday as a "passionate and gifted" media practitioner and teacher, and noted that few held that dual talent.
Mr Ó Luanaigh, who is from Galway, joined the National Library of Ireland in 1968 and retired this year.
He is an acknowledged expert on the library's collections, having published several works on the subject. He has a particular interest in Franco-Irish relations, according to Marie Reddan, librarian at NUIG's James Hardiman Library.