Over 300 graduates from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science were conferred last week. Among them, an honorary doctorate of science was awarded to Brother Tony Dolan at the UCD agricultural science graduation ceremony last week. The conferral was to acknowledge Brother Tony’s contribution to sustainable agriculture and agricultural education in Ireland, Kenya and Uganda since 1971.
Over 300 graduates from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science were conferred last week. Among them, an honorary doctorate of science was awarded to Brother Tony Dolan at the UCD agricultural science graduation ceremony last week. The conferral was to acknowledge Brother Tony’s contribution to sustainable agriculture and agricultural education in Ireland, Kenya and Uganda since 1971.
Br Tony Dolan and Prof James Kinsella, School of Agriculture and Food Science
“Brother Tony has been 20 years ahead of his time with the promotion and teaching of sustainable agriculture in Kenya and Uganda. The true contribution of Brother Tony is best seen in the powerful combination of intelligence, rigor, integrity and sheer humanity which he brings to his work,” Professor James Kinsella said during the citation read at the ceremony.
Brother Tony Dolan graduated from UCD in 1971 with a degree in agriculture, he started teaching at Mountbellew Agricultural College and within two years was appointed principal to the college. He led the development of new dairy and beef units there.
In 1989, Brother Tony moved to a chronically poor and agriculture-dependent region of Kenya, Molo, and took on the role as principal at Baraka Farmers’ Training Centre. He successfully guided the upgrading of the centre to an agriculture college with over 2000 graduates to date.
The Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development curriculum is now accredited by the Kenyan government as a national training course.
In 2009, Brother Tony moved to northern Uganda to help the people of this region along with refugees from South Sudan. Through the trust of local farmers, Brother Tony and his colleagues acquired land and established an agricultural and rural development training centre. Adraa Agriculture College started training in 2012 and now has an intake of 1,200 students per year on four to six courses.
Michelle Kearns, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and Megan Walsh, Bennetstown, Co Kilkenny, at the graduation for the UCD School of Agricultural and Food Science. \ Ferdia Mooney
David, Anne, Louise and Rachel O'Connor from Charleville, Co Cork, at the graduation for the UCD School of Agricultural and Food Science. \ Ferdia Mooney
Peter Tuoghy from, Naas, Co Kildare, Sean O'Sullivan from Celbridge, Co Kildare, Adam Smith from Co Longford and Brian O'Connell from Edenderry, Co Offaly, at the graduation for the UCD School of Agricultural and Food Science. \ Ferdia Mooney
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