The University of Dublin, Trinity College

Lead Singer of U2 and President of the European Parliament
Among Leading Figures to Receive Honorary Degrees at Trinity College Dublin

July 11, 2003

Mr. Paul Hewson (Bono), lead singer of U2 and campaigner for humanitarian rights in the developing world, and Mr. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, were among five recipients to receive an Honorary Degree from the University of Dublin (Trinity College) today, Friday 11 July.

The recipients of Honorary Degrees were:

· Dame Judi Dench Litt.D. (Doctor in Letters)
Awarded the Order of the British Empire and made Dame of the British Empire, she is one of the England's most esteemed actresses. Famous for her commanding stage and screen presence, she excels at both drama and comedy. The winner of a number of acting awards (including Best Actress Oscar Nomination and a five-time BAFTA winner), she has starred in a wide variety of film, TV and theatre roles, including 'M' in the James Bond film 'Goldeneye'.

· Professor Roy Foster Litt.D. (Doctor in Letters)
Professor of Irish History at the University of Oxford, he is internationally recognised as a leading authority on Irish history in the Victorian and Modern periods. He is currently working on the second volume of the authorised biography of W.B. Yeats and his previous publications include biographies of Charles Stewart Parnell, Lord Randolph Churchill, a History of Modern Ireland and more recently a collection of essays entitled 'Paddy and Mr Punch: Connections in Irish and English History'.

· Mr. Pat Cox LL.D. (Doctor in Laws)
The first Irishman to be elected President of the European Parliament, he has been an MEP since 1989, representing the constituency of Munster. He was elected to Dail Eireann and became Finance Spokesperson for the Progressive Democrats. Prior to entering politics he worked as an economics lecturer and as a journalist and television presenter on Irish television. He is also President of the European Liberal Democrat Group and was awarded the European Movement's European of the Year Award earlier this year.

· Mr. Paul Hewson (Bono) LL.D. (Doctor in Laws)
Lead singer of internationally acclaimed rock group, U2, Bono is an outspoken fundraiser for Third World problems. Founder of DATA (Debt, Aid, Trade for Africa), a non-profit debt-relief advocacy group, he has been instrumental in the Drop the Dept campaign which wiped out millions of dollars of international debt owed by Third World governments. He has lobbied world leaders to encourage them to contribute more aid relief to developing countries. He has been nominated for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize.

· The Hon Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness LL.D. (Doctor in Laws)
Supreme Court Judge, she is recognised as a leading Irish lawyer and jurist who has promoted the principles of legality, justice, equality and integrity within Irish Society. She has served for two terms in the Seanad representing Trinity College Dublin (1979-1997) and as Chairperson of the Employment Equality Agency, the Kilkenny Incest Investigation and the Forum For Peace and Reconciliation.

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