International icon for Irish golf Padraig Harrington has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) for his outstanding achievements as a sportsman and representation of Ireland on the international stage. The Fellowship was conferred at a ceremony that took place at the College on St Stephen's Green last night which was attended by more than 100 invited guests, including RTE sporting pundit Des Cahill.

The Honorary Fellowship of RCSI is the highest distinction the College bestows, recognising outstanding achievement in both surgery as well as outstanding achievements in other areas. Padraig Harrington joins the ranks of other non-surgeon Honorary Fellows which include Bob Geldof, the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the late Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter and the late Seamus Heaney.

Speaking at the event, Professor Patrick Broe, President of RCSI said: "Padraig Harrington's sporting achievements have brought great credit to Ireland and we applaud him for those achievements and for the manner in which he has continued to work hard even at the height of his success."

"We admire Padraig greatly for his dedication to his craft and his attention to physical and mental fitness as well as to the technical aspects of the game. He is a great sportsman who conducts himself with great dignity both at the time of outstanding victories but also at the time of adversity and disappointment. There are lessons in Padraig's career for us as surgeons who in the modern era must also be physically and mentally fit, maintain and develop and hone their surgical skills and who must, at all times, be in a position to cope with success and disappointment in equal measure," Professor Broe concluded.

The Honorary Fellowship citation was delivered at the ceremony by Frank McManus, RCSI Council Member, who recounted the highlights of Padraig Harrington's glittering career as the greatest golfer the nation has produced.