The President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, has been made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the highest honour it can bestow.
Her Fellowship was conferred during a visit to the RSE as part of her week-long series of engagements across Scotland. She becomes the third Irish President to receive this honour from the RSE and joins her predecessors Professor Mary Robinson HonFRSE and Professor Mary McAleese HonFRSE.
President Connolly said: “It is a privilege to receive this Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh and to have the opportunity of meeting with some of those working in such a wide range of disciplines for the public good.
“I particularly welcome the work that is being undertaken between researchers in Ireland and Scotland which will help inform public policy in both countries.”
Galway-born President Connolly was elected as the 10th Irish President in 2025, serving as the third woman to do so. She was for many years an elected councillor and held senior offices such as the Mayor of Galway and Leas-Cheann Comhairle (Deputy Chairperson of Dail Eireann), before being elected as President.
Ms Connolly has a master’s in clinical psychology and a law degree – practising in both fields before entering politics in 1999. She has a long history of commitment to social justice issues and community wellbeing.
The citation for President Connolly highlights her commitment to cultural and linguistic heritage in her politics – which was a large feature of her electoral campaign in 2025. She pledged to use her Presidency as a voice for peace, bringing her longstanding commitment to dialogue, inclusion and public service.
Professor Jo Shaw, General Secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, said: “It is a true honour to welcome President Connolly into the RSE’s Fellowship.
“Throughout her career she has consistently demonstrated her passion and drive for helping others, from being a barrister and psychologist to her public service.
“An Honorary Fellowship is our Society’s highest honour that we can bestow, so on behalf of our entire Fellowship and staff I am deeply proud that President Connolly has accepted.”
President Connolly joins the ranks of the RSE Fellowship which numbers around 1800, who are elected in recognition of their commitment to public service, excellence in scientific endeavour or the world of business or the arts.
Honorary Fellowships recognise individuals of truly exceptional distinction who are internationally renowned and widely known outside their specialism. Other notable Honorary Fellows include broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, Olympian Baroness Katherine Grainger, musician Dr Annie Lennox, and physicist Professor Peter Higgs.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh has a long history of working with Ireland through the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), supporting researchers in both countries through its Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Network Grants. This partnership has supported research into domestic violence and the impact of COVID-19 on children and young adults.
Following President Connolly’s formal acceptance of her Honorary Fellowship, Professor Jemina Napier and Lucy Clark presented their research into domestic abuse of deaf women – one of the research projects that was a direct result of the Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Partnership. A roundtable discussion about deepening links and renewing the partnership then followed.
The partnership began in 2021, with the RIA and the RSE committing a maximum of £12,500 each to support two research projects. From 2026 this figure has increased to £15,000 each.
A total of 10 research projects have been supported between 2021 and last year, with five being administered by the RIA and five by the RSE. The projects that were funded covered a range of themes, including oceanography, rural, coastal or island communities, and diasporas.
Over the past five years, 40 applications were received from higher education institutions in Ireland and Scotland, with £122,000 being disbursed for projects in total.
As a result of the partnership continuing, research projects in 2026 will cover the theme of culture, language and sport.
The bilateral agreement is accomplished with the support of the Scottish Government Office in Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
PICTURES: Ian Georgeson
