Professor Thomas O’Loughlin was one of the honorary members welcomed into the Royal Irish Academy for 2020. Dr Mary Canning, PRIA welcomed all 29 recently elected Members during an Admittance Day ceremony held online, in May. The new members were described as “a group of exceptional individuals who are internationally renowned in their respective fields”.
When asked about his addition into the Royal Irish Academy, Professor O’Loughlin said;
"I grew up in Dublin and so passed by the buildings of the Royal Irish Academy every time I travelled into the city. One day I heard people behind me saying 'some of the most important manuscripts from early Ireland are stored in there!' I probably did not know what a 'manuscript' was, but I knew it was something important! Many years later I would return to that building to work on some of those very manuscripts! So this is an honour that fills me with joy. For over two hundred years all the finest scholars in Ireland - in both the arts and the sciences - have placed after their names: 'MRIA' - 'Member of the Royal Irish Academy' - and the list of their names is a who's who of academic excellence in Ireland. To have been elected for the honour of being counted among them, is a humbling experience!"
More information about Tom’s award and the Royal Irish Academy can be found on their website here.
Posted on Thursday 9th July 2020