College awards highest honour in recognition of contribution to Irish education and public service.

Dr Maurice Manning, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of RCSI in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Irish education and public service, at a special ceremony at the College on St Stephen's Green in Dublin.

The Honorary Fellowship of RCSI is the highest distinction the College bestows, recognising outstanding accomplishments in both surgery as well as exceptional achievements in other areas. Dr Maurice Manning 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, Padraig Harrington and the late Seamus Heaney. 

Speaking at the event, Professor John Hyland, President of RCSI said: "Dr Maurice Manning's has demonstrated steadfast dedication to public service during the course of his career as an academic and politician. As a recognised College of the National University of Ireland, we at RCSI are privileged to have worked with Dr Manning in his role of Chancellor."

"Today we recognise Dr Maurice Manning for his outstanding work and broad vision that has contributed immensely both to RCSI and to building the reputation of Irish Education in Ireland and overseas," Professor Hyland concluded.

The Honorary Fellowship citation was delivered at the ceremony by Professor Patrick Broe, RCSI Council Member and former President of the College, who recounted Dr Manning's illustrious career as both an academic and politician. He highlighted the lively enthusiasm Dr Manning has brought to RCSI conferring ceremonies and the sense of warmth and humanity he brings to these milestone occasions for graduands and their families.

Dr Maurice Manning was elected Chancellor of the National University of Ireland on March 12, 2009. He is the fifth Chancellor of the University since its establishment in 1908. Dr Manning was born in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, educated at de la Salle Schools Bagenalstown, Rockwell College, University College Dublin and the University of Strathclyde.

He has been a member of the NUI Senate for 27 years, having been elected on the graduate panel in every election since 1982; he served on the Governing Authority of UCD from 1979 to 2008; he spent much of his academic career in the Department of Politics at UCD where he established a reputation for his teaching, his closeness to students and his publications. He has published widely and is currently Adjunct Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at UCD. He is also currently Chair of the Publishing Committee of the Institute of Public Administration. Dr Manning has served in both Dáil and Seanad Éireann. During that time he was a member of the New Ireland Forum, and the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body. He was both leader of Seanad Éireann and Leader of the Opposition in that House. Maurice Manning has also been President of the Irish Human Rights Commission and was Chair of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions.