Sligo Olympian Lauren Cadden to receive an ATU Alumni Award
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has announced the recipients of its inaugural Alumni Awards, celebrating graduates who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and positive impact in their professions and communities. Amongst the nominees are Sligo athlete, Lauren Cadden. The awards are an opportunity for the university to honour alumni whose exceptional skills, leadership, and impact have inspired students, staff, and wider community. Alumni Awards are presented to alumni who have made outstanding contributions in the following areas aligned to its faculties:
Business
Design, Education & Humanities
Engineering & Computing
Science & Health
Seven graduates will be recognised at the university's Spring Conferring Ceremonies, taking place this week across ATU campuses in Donegal, Sligo and Galway.
The 2025 ATU Alumni Award recipients are:
Pat McArt, Journalist, Author, Former Editor, Derry Journal – Alumni Award in Design, Education & Humanities
Breege Conroy Walsh, Founder & Managing Director, BWC MedTech Consulting and Former VP of Global Quality Engineering and Services at Medtronic Inc. – Alumni Award in Science & Health
Dr Shane Loughlin, Founder and President, ESE Academy – Alumni Award in Engineering & Computing
Enda Mc Guane, Head of Asset Management, Land Development Agency – Alumni Award in Business
Evelyn O'Toole, Founder & CEO, Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) – Alumni Award in Science & HealthLauren Cadden, Record-breaking Irish Sprinter and Paris 2024 Olympian – President's Alumni Award
Lisa Lynch, Senior Manager R&D, Boston Scientific - Alumni Award in Science & Health
Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, said, 'These outstanding alumni represent the very best of Atlantic Technological University. Their achievements are a source of immense pride for our university community, and they inspire our current students to dream bigger and reach higher.
'These are our very first Alumni Awards, and we look forward to celebrating many more incredible graduates in the years to come.'
The Alumni Awards will be presented to the recipients during ATU's Spring Conferring Ceremonies, held across the university's campuses on the 29 April (Letterkenny), 30 April (Sligo). and 01 May (Galway City).
These events will bring together the ATU community, along with families and friends, to celebrate both the graduating students and the outstanding achievements of the alumni awardees.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Simon Harris was lobbied by arms industry, FoI records show
A lobby group for some of the world's largest arms companies pushed Simon Harris to establish an arms industry strategy. Records released under Freedom of Information show that the Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) wrote to Department of Defence assistant secretary general Eamonn Murtagh seeking to schedule a 'quarterly meeting' in late March. The following week, the group's directors, Catriona Heinl and Pat O'Connor, wrote 'a letter of introduction' to Mr Harris, who had been appointed defence minister in January. Lobbying register disclosures show a meeting was held on April 10 at the Department of Defence with the directors of the association to 'represent IDSA member priorities such as certainty surrounding industrial participation policy and industry strategy aspects'. In the letter, the group said it had a number of priorities which it says arose in light of both Irish and European commitments to increase military spending. The introductory letter says the step-up in national and European defence expenditures, 'will prompt the call for local industrial involvement' and that it 'is critical to shape these foundations at this stage'. 'IDSA has strongly recommended the need to develop the nation's defence industry strategy and thereby determine a defined industrial participation policy in defence procurement [in compliance with national/EU regulation].' IDSA members include Lockheed Martin The lobby group, whose members include the world's largest arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, told the department it 'can provide essential input, bringing national and European industry experience to relevant consultations'. The letter to Mr Harris goes on to say that 'there is an urgent need for active coordination with relevant ministries/agencies responsible for trade and the economy' and the industry and adds that 'the Government's expected economic benefit to Ireland of these increased national defence spend ambitions does not seem to have been yet provided for'. In March, EU 27 leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways 'to facilitate significant defence spending at national level in all member states'. The IDSA letter says 'clarity will be needed on how Ireland will position itself in relation to EU Defence Industrial Strategy where the implications of an evolving but fast moving EU industrial focus for Ireland does not yet seem to be determined'. Harris proposed €3bn military budget Mr Harris told the 'Irish Examiner' in February that, 'over time', Ireland should raise military spending to €3bn a year, the highest level set out by the Commission on the Defence Forces 2022 report. That envisages 12 naval vessels, a squadron of combat aircraft, and the army ranger wing having 'an organic self-sustainment capability which would include dedicated combat helicopter assets'. Mr Harris said then: 'The programme for government talks about reaching what they call level of ambition two by 2028 and that basically gets to the €1.5bn. 'But I think we are going to have to go further than that in time. And the programme for Government does talk about moving towards level of ambition three. What I'm saying to the Irish people is €1.5bn should be seen as the floor and certainly not the ceiling in terms of where defence expenditure needs to get to.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish households' €160bn in savings could be unlocked to fund new homes
The Government should establish a State-backed housing investment vehicle to allow households to invest their savings in housing development, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has said. The society said such an initiative, similar to schemes operating in countries such as France, would enable the Government to put long-term multi-annual housing plans in place while also facilitating investment in much-needed infrastructural projects. 'Irish households' bank deposits amount to nearly €160bn, mostly in low-interest current accounts,' said the society's new president, Gerard O'Toole. 'At the same time, access to finance remains a major barrier, especially for small and medium-sized developers.' Mr O'Toole pointed out that the State is by far the largest investor in Ireland's housing delivery — it allocated over €5bn to housing in 2024. However, he said that this level of public investment is not sustainable in the long term and the State needs to explore alternative and diversified funding streams. 'A savings fund of this nature would underpin long-term planning by providing the multi-annual funding commitments housing projects require,' he said. 'It could also support longer-term budgets for several state housing schemes, including help-to-buy and vacant property grants, which are often subject to annual funding reviews and decisions.' The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) also said the new Housing Activation Office needs to commence its work urgently on clearing the many blockages which are impeding the delivery of new housing. 'The SCSI is calling for reform of the utility connection processes and earlier engagement by Uisce Éireann and the ESB with home builders to reduce delays and prioritise essential connections for housing ready for occupation,' Mr O'Toole said. 'That is why we believe the terms of reference for the Housing Activation Office must facilitate greater collaboration and transparency. Regular and effective engagement with key industry stakeholders will be key to the success of this office.'
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Alcohol consumption falls again, dropping 4.5% last year
Alcohol consumption in Ireland fell sharply last year, dropping 4.5% according to a report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), which is demanding cuts to excise rates. The representative body said the data shows consumption of alcohol by Irish consumers was now on par with their European counterparts, but that excise rates remain the second-highest in Europe. The report by economist Anthony Foley shows the average adult consumed 9.5 litres of pure alcohol last year, a drop from 9.9 litres in 2023. All four beverage categories, beer, spirits, wine, and cider, experienced volume decreases in 2024. Ranked against a sample of 16 European countries, Ireland's average consumption was lower than nine countries and was higher than seven countries. 'Ireland is no longer an outlier in terms of high average levels of alcohol consumption as measured by the methodology used for that indicator,' the report notes. The report highlights the changing pattern of alcohol consumption. Secretary of DIGI and CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association, Donall O'Keefe said the report shows Irish people are increasingly drinking in a restrained manner, with consumption continuing the downward trajectory that has been recorded since the millennium. 'This downward trend also raises the obvious question as to why Ireland continues to have the second-highest excise rates on alcohol in Europe,' he said. 'Given that we now consume alcohol at average European levels it makes sense that we should pay excise at average European levels also. This is particularly true following the introduction of minimum unit pricing which prevents the sale of strong alcohol at low prices in supermarkets and shops. 'In contrast to the negative stereotypes that once existed, alcohol consumption in Ireland is now at average European levels, with the purchase of non-alcoholic drinks continuing to increase. 'Across Ireland, hundreds of small rural pubs and restaurants are struggling for survival due to repeated increases in the cost of doing business, including staff, energy and insurance. A cut in excise would offer these businesses an opportunity to continue acting as vital hubs in their communities, as well as a crucial part of our tourism product. 'DIGI will be seeking a 10% cut in excise in this year's budget as an urgent measure to give these businesses a fighting chance of survival,' Mr O'Keefe said. Last week, drinks giant Diageo said bar sales of non-alcoholic Guinness 0.0 grew 27% in the last year, with the non-alcoholic version set to take up 12% of total stout production at the Dublin brewery next year. The product has enjoyed a huge 161% increase in yearly volume on-trade sales between June 2022 and March 2025. Other breweries report similar increases in non-alcoholic versions of their beers. The change in drinking patterns is also borne out elsewhere. In March, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said the volume of sales in bars had dropped 10% over the previous year. Vintners' Federation of Ireland chief executive Pat Crotty said the CSO figures support anecdotal evidence from publicans around the country that drink sales have fallen in the region of 9% over the past year. 'This comes on the back of rising costs, with the likes of rates, water charges, and labour costs all surging way ahead of inflation,' he said. 'Publicans are now facing a perfect storm of rising costs and falling turnover, which is not sustainable if the pub trade is to survive over the long term. 'It should be noted that most cost increases come from the Government, so we need to see meaningful supports that will make a difference to the average publican struggling to attract customers through the door.'
