Milltown Professor retires after 24 years of service

President Connolly attends special lecture

A GALWAY Professor who hails from Milltown was honoured with a valedictory lecture to mark his retirement after more than 24 years of service.

A leading scholar in housing law and human rights, Professor Padraic Kenna delivered the special address at University of Galway last week in the presence of President of Ireland Catherine Connolly.

Professor Kenna attended Kilconly National School and the former Tuam Christian Brothers School.

“We were the first generation to get free secondary education and free transportation to school,” recalled Professor Kenna.

He volunteered with the Simon Community in Dublin for almost a year, before moving to the UK to pursue a degree in Law and Sociology from the University of Warwick. He was then awarded a PhD in Right to Housing from University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway).

Before joining the School of Law at University of Galway in 2002, Prof Kenna had also worked with a range of statutory and non-government agencies in the UK and Ireland, including the Galway Simon Community.

He told The Tuam Herald that he always had an interest in housing, but working with the Simon Communities sparked his curiosity on why homelessness exists.

“At the time there was a different kind of homelessness, mostly single men, but now even families are homeless,” he explained.

Introducing Professor Kenna at the ceremony, President Connolly recognised his contribution to academia and public debate on housing, human rights and property law.

She highlighted his development of Ireland’s first course on housing law and policy, alongside his extensive publications and collaborations with organisations nationally and internationally.

“Padraic has never accepted that homelessness and a housing crisis are inevitable,” said President Connolly.

“Throughout his varied career, he has consistently demonstrated that reliance on the market for the provision of housing is an integral part of the problem,” she added.

The evening recognised the significance of Prof Kenna’s scholarship, kindness, humour and generosity that he has shown to generations of students and colleagues.