County champions Joyce and Treacy to be honoured by GMIT

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN AWARD-winning milliner Philip Treacy and All-Ireland medal winner and inter-county football hero Padraic Joyce are among a small group who will be honoured later this month by the GMIT. Ahascragh-born Philip Treacy will return to his native county for the event, where President Michael D Higgins will also be in attendance. They are among the seven people who will receive the inaugural honorary fellowships by the GMIT on Friday, May 24 in recognition of their outstanding contributions in their chosen field. More than 200 invited guests will attend the conferring in the g Hotel, the interior of which was designed by Philip Treacy some years ago. Football All-Star Padraic Joyce, who retired from inter-county football last year, is being honoured for his contribution to sport; President Higgins for his contribution to public life and Philip Treacy for his contribution to business. Award-winning businessman Bernard Collins will receive a fellowship to mark his contribution to industry, theologian Professor Enda McDonagh for his contribution to education, archaeologist Dr Seamus Caulfield for his contribution to Irish history and community and Marie Mullen, co-founder of Druid, will be honoured for her work in the arts. President of GMIT Michael Carmody said: â€Å“This is the first time in the 40-year history of the institute that the governing body has decided to award honorary fellowships. They are intended to recognise publicly the contribution each of the recipients has made in their chosen field and the ceremony will be an occasion to celebrate their achievements.â€Â