Acclaimed novelist Donal Ryan among four alumni honoured by University of Limerick
Acclaimed novelist Donal Ryan is among four ‘inspirational’ University of Limerick alumni who have been honoured at an awards ceremony.
One of Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary writers, the Spinning Heart author was honoured alongside diplomat Frances Collins, Martin Cotter, Chief Business Units Officer and President, EMEA, at Analog Devices (ADI), and investigative journalist Derek Bowler at the 2026 University of Limerick Alumni Awards in the Castletroy Park Hotel this Friday night.
The four recipients join a distinguished group of alumni recognised since the awards programme began in 2006. They are drawn from UL’s global alumni of more than 140,000 graduates.
UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins said the awardees were ‘inspirational’.
“Tonight marks the nineteenth year of this prestigious programme, a tradition that has celebrated extraordinary graduates since 2006. Over that period, more than 60 alumni have been honoured, each reflecting the values, ambition and impact that define University of Limerick. Tonight, we add four more distinguished names to that remarkable list.
“These awards are about achievement, certainly. But they are also about inspiration.
“They remind our current students of what is possible. They demonstrate the enduring value of education. They highlight the difference that one individual can make in their community, profession, country and, in many cases, the wider world.”
Professor Kilcommins said each recipient “represents four very different paths, but they share a common foundation, a University of Limerick education and a commitment to excellence.
“What strikes me about each of tonight’s recipients is not simply their success, impressive though it is. It is their contribution.
“Through literature, diplomacy, technology, and journalism, they have all sought to make a meaningful difference. They have used their talents not solely for personal achievement, but to create value for others.
“That is the essence of what a university education should enable. We are celebrating four exceptional graduates, but we also celebrate the enduring relationship between a university and its alumni, a relationship that continues to grow stronger with every generation,” Professor Kilcommins added.
More than 200 guests attended the event which was supported by lead sponsor Edwards and several event partners. The MC was UL alumna and broadcaster Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh.
2026 UL Alumni Awards Recipients:
Donal Ryan - Outstanding Achievement Alumni Award (Arts & Culture)
Donal Ryan is one of Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary writers. From County Tipperary, his fiction is noted for its distinctive voices, compassion for its characters and exploration of community and contemporary Irish life. His work has been recognised with numerous national and international awards.
His debut novel, The Spinning Heart (2012), established him as a major new voice in Irish literature. It won the Guardian First Book Award and the European Union Prize for Literature, was longlisted for the Booker Prize, and was named Irish Book of the Decade in 2016. He was again longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2018 for From a Low and Quiet Sea, which later won the Prix Jean Monnet de Littérature Européenne.
His other acclaimed works include The Thing About December, the short story collection A Slanting of the Sun, All We Shall Know, Strange Flowers, The Queen of Dirt Island and Heart, Be at Peace. The latter won both Novel of the Year and overall Book of the Year at the 2024 Irish Book Awards, before receiving the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction in 2025. His latest novel, Where Are The Kings, was published in August 2026 and topped the Irish bestseller charts.
Donal’s work has been translated into more than twenty languages and adapted for stage and screen. He has contributed to publications and broadcasters including The Irish Times, The Guardian/Observer, The Wall Street Journal, BBC and RTÉ.
Donal received a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from UL in 2005. He returned to the University in 2017 and is now Associate Professor of Creative Writing. He lives in Castletroy with his wife, Anne Marie, and their two children.
Frances Collins - Outstanding Achievement Alumni Award (Society)
Frances Collins graduated from UL with a Bachelor of Arts in History, Politics and Social Studies in 2004 and a Master’s degree in European Integration in 2005. She joined Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2008 and has built a distinguished diplomatic career spanning development cooperation, international security, humanitarian affairs and multilateral diplomacy.
From 2022 to 2026, Frances served as Ireland's Ambassador to the Holy See, strengthening relations between Ireland and the Vatican while advancing collaboration on peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, climate action, sustainable development, anti-trafficking initiatives and the protection of vulnerable communities. During her tenure, she worked closely with Catholic sisters and women faith leaders, helping establish the Women Faith and Climate Network in partnership with Project Dandelion and the Laudato Si' Movement.
She served at a historic period that included the deaths of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, and the election of Pope Leo XIV. As only the second woman appointed as Ireland's Ambassador to the Holy See, she represented the growing leadership of women within Irish diplomacy.
Frances has also made significant contributions to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation policy, including during Ireland's membership of the United Nations Security Council. Through her work with Irish Aid, the European Union and Ireland's embassies overseas, including postings in South Sudan and Uganda, she has supported peacebuilding, humanitarian response and international development in some of the world's most challenging environments.
She credits University of Limerick with inspiring her career in diplomacy through its academic programmes, co-operative education and Erasmus opportunities, as well as the lifelong friendships formed during her time on campus.
Martin Cotter - Outstanding Achievement Alumni Award (Science & Technology)
Martin Cotter is Chief Business Units Officer and President, EMEA, at Analog Devices (ADI), where he leads major business sectors spanning industrial and multi-markets, automotive, aerospace, defence and communications, healthcare, and consumer technology.
As President of EMEA, Martin leads ADI’s engagement with customers, governments, industry associations, universities and communities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His work supports regional growth and investment, as well as the development of precision and power technologies used in areas including smart manufacturing and sustainable buildings.
Martin joined Analog Devices as a design engineer in 1986. Over a career spanning four decades, he has held senior positions across engineering, sales, marketing and business management. He previously led ADI’s industrial and multi-markets business, as well as its global sales and digital marketing organisation, building collaborative relationships with customers worldwide. In 2025, Martin received the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland’s Global Leadership Award in recognition of his contribution to the US–Ireland relationship. Alongside his distinguished international career, Martin has maintained a strong connection with the Mid-West and University of Limerick. As a member of the UL Foundation Board, he contributes his experience and insight to the University’s development and future ambitions.
Through his leadership at Analog Devices, Martin has also helped strengthen the company’s partnership with UL. This collaboration has supported scholarships, deepened connections between education and industry, and created valuable opportunities for students. It includes ADI’s involvement in UL’s pioneering iBio programme, which combines bioscience and data science with extensive industry residencies.
A three-time UL graduate, Martin holds a Bachelor of Engineering, a Master of Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University. His global achievements, commitment to developing talent and enduring contribution to his alma mater exemplify the very best of the UL alumni community.
Derek Bowler - Outstanding Achievement Alumni Award (Society)
Derek Bowler graduated from University of Limerick with a degree in Journalism and New Media after beginning his studies as a mature student in 2011. During his time at UL, he served as Chief Reporter and later Editor of the Limerick Voice, while also gaining experience in broadcasting and digital journalism.
His career began at Storyful, where he specialised in the verification of social media content and eyewitness evidence during major global events, including the Syrian conflict, the MH17 disaster and the rise of ISIS. He later joined the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), where he spent almost a decade helping to transform how public service broadcasters use digital verification, open-source intelligence (OSINT) and fact-checking techniques.
Among his achievements, Derek established the Eurovision Social Newswire and founded Eurovision News Spotlight, a network bringing together journalists and forensic investigators from more than 30 public service media organisations. He contributed to major international investigations, including inquiries into the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russia's policies in occupied Ukrainian territories.
As a member of the EBU Academy faculty, Derek developed and delivered digital forensic and OSINT training to thousands of journalists across more than 50 countries. He also contributed to the Academy's School of AI programme, which received the European Digital Skills Award in 2025.
In 2024, he co-authored Eyewitness Textures, a study of visual evidence in digital journalism. In 2026, he founded Signal and Shadow, an independent consultancy providing OSINT training and investigative support to media organisations around the world.
Derek credits University of Limerick with providing the foundation, resilience and opportunities that shaped his career and continues to guide his work today.
