Mayo woman awarded Alumni Award by University of Galway

A MAYO woman has been named among the University of Galway's 2023 Alumni Awards winners, to be presented at a gala banquet on June 16.

The Alumni Award for Emerging Leaders, sponsored by Deloitte, has been awarded to author and writer Geraldine Lavelle from Castlebar.

The Alumni Awards recognise individual excellence and achievements among the university’s 128,000 alumni worldwide. These awardees - eight in total this year - are leaders who have demonstrated impact and excellence in their fields on a local, national, and international level.

Speaking on the announcement of the recipients, President of University of Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “It is the mission of our university to make the world a better place through our teaching, research, and impact. Our Alumni Awards programme recognises alumni who make a positive difference in the world and who are leaders in their chosen fields.”

Geraldine Lavelle’s life changed in an instant in 2013 when she was involved in a horrific road accident while out for a routine cycle ride. The Castlebar woman suffered a spinal cord injury that left three-quarters of her body paralysed.

Overnight, Geraldine had to adapt from being an independent, physically active young woman to a new world where she required assistance to perform the most basic tasks.

Since acquiring her disability, Geraldine has worked at Abbott Diagnostics, lectured in health science and physiology at ATU Sligo and qualified as a special needs assistant. She is raising awareness about the challenges of inclusivity for those living with disabilities and participation in sporting activities.

She is also a passionate advocate for people living with disabilities and has contributed regular articles to the Western People, Sligo Champion, and several national media outlets.

Her new book, Weathering the Storm, is an account of her journey over the last nine years from the days following her accident to her emergence as a powerful and articulate voice for people with disabilities in Ireland.

The full list of award winners is:

Alumni Award for Business and Commerce - Jim Clarken, CEO of Oxfam Ireland, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner, EU Fundamental Rights Agency Chair.

Alumni Award for Arts, Literature and Celtic Studies - Ray Burke, Journalist and former Chief News Editor at RTÉ.

Alumni Award for Engineering, Science and Technology - Professor Oliver O'Reilly, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, University of California, Berkeley.

Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy and Society - Major General Maureen O'Brien, Deputy Military Adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Alumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences - Dr. Dapo Odumeru, MBE, Regional Quality Assurance Manager, NHS Blood and Transplant.

Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge - Máirín Ní Ghadhra, Broadcaster, RTÉ.

Alumni Award for Contribution to Sport - Tony Regan, former Head of Sport at University of Galway.

Alumni Award for Emerging Leaders - Geraldine Lavelle, Author, Writer.