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A mother and daughter have said they were ‘counting down to this day’ as they graduate together from ��ɫ��Ƶ.

Mother and daughter Ruth Buckley and Orla Gaffney, from Cork, are celebrating after a double graduation from UL’s Faculty of Science and Engineering. 

Ruth was conferred with a Doctorate of Engineering (Apprenticeship), alongside her daughter Orla Gaffney, who was conferred with a BSc in Food Science and Nutrition. They are two of more than 3,600 students to graduate as part of the 2025 Autumn Conferring Ceremonies.

Ruth and Orla’s shared academic journey at ��ɫ��Ƶ started four years ago. 

“In 2021, I turned to Mum in the car and said, ‘We are going to be graduating together in 2025!’ From that moment onwards, I’ve been counting down to this day,” Orla recalls. 

Ruth, a graduate of Computer Science from University College Cork, worked as a programmer in the banking sector in Dublin and London before joining Cork City Council over 20 years ago as their first head of Information Technology and is now in the role of Chief Information Officer.   

She later completed an MBA at Henley Business School in the UK, and through her work, had the opportunity to undertake various public official programmes at Harvard Business School and the East China Normal University in Shanghai.

Sport has always played a central role in the Buckley Gaffney household, where Ruth and her husband Michael have proudly watched Orla and her siblings, Eoin and Aine, represent Ireland in rowing at home and abroad. 

“I was inspired to take up rowing in 2012 by my brother, who represented Ireland four times at world level, and I began my own rowing journey at Shandon Boat Club,” Orla said. “Over the years, rowing has shaped my discipline, resilience, and teamwork skills, and I’ve been fortunate to represent Ireland three times in the past three years, winning four national titles along the way.”

Alongside sport, Orla has been curious about how food fuels the body since she was a child.

“I vividly remember helping my parents in the kitchen, asking endless questions about why certain foods made me feel more energised or helped me recover faster after training. As my rowing became more competitive, I became increasingly aware of how nutrition could influence performance, recovery, and overall health. 

“This blend of personal experience and scientific curiosity naturally drew me toward studying the relationship between food composition, processing, and human health. That passion, coupled with my enjoyment of science subjects in school, made the BSc in Food Science and Health ��ɫ��Ƶ the perfect choice for me.”

Orla was also influenced by her mum Ruth’s involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) outreach activities, such as iWish, a community which organises events and activities designed to encourage young women to consider a career in STEM. 

“Mum is a co-founder of iWish. I still remember attending one of her events in 2019, when I was in Transition Year, and feeling so inspired listening to the speakers share their stories. It was one of the first times I truly saw the possibilities that a STEM path could offer.”

For Ruth, a PhD was always something she wanted to do, but before taking it on, she considered the impact it would have on her own personal capacity and her family. 

“My children were beginning to leave home and my youngest was 15 when I started. It’s important that you can get time out to do this on top of what you are doing already. I knew my children needed me less, so the timing is very important.” 

����’s&�Բ�����;Doctorate of Engineering (Apprenticeship) is a unique four-year course aimed at employed professionals who are already experienced in a particular area and wish to broaden their skills while they work. Candidates are required to make a contribution to both theory and practice in their field, and to develop professional practice by making a contribution to professional knowledge.

Ruth’s doctoral thesis focused on cybersecurity. 

“My current role as Chief Information Officer at Cork City Council is constantly changing with the introduction of new technologies and processes,” she explained. 

“I liked the concept of a doctorate programme that was designed for people in the workplace, working full time, but which allowed the freedom to research immediate or emerging organisational challenges.” 

“I loved stretching outside my comfort zone, experiencing a new way of thinking, including the luxury of being able to research aspects of cyber which I couldn’t reach in my professional life.” 

Perseverance is a trait that runs in the family. As a high-performance athlete, Orla was faced with striking a balance between her studies and sport.

“Balancing my academic workload with high-performance sport was a challenge, especially during competition season. Training 12 to 14 times per week while meeting deadlines required strong time management and discipline,” she explained. 

“However, these pressures also taught me resilience and prioritisation skills that I’ll carry into my career. One of my most memorable moments was winning gold in the Women’s Senior Eight at the 2023 ��ɫ��Ƶs International Regatta in London Docklands while representing Ireland.

Similarly, for Mum Ruth, taking on a PhD did not come without its challenges. 

“There were a few times a year when I seriously doubted my ability to finish. I questioned myself and my motivation. In my darkest moments, usually when very tired, I felt foolish ‘at this age’ for taking this on.

“But then I considered the new experiences, the new people and the ‘breath of fresh air’ impact of this undertaking on me and my perspectives. I just took a break, regrouped, and reminded myself that perseverance had served me well throughout my career.

“I also reminded myself that I was tackling a big problem in cyber for my sector and how this research would help me and others to understand and manage the risks.”

Looking ahead, Ruth plans to share these learnings with colleagues with the aim of enhancing cyber security and resilience in her sector. 

Orla will shortly begin a role in Quality Assurance with the Kerry Group Graduate Programme in Charleville, and will continue her studies ��ɫ��Ƶ with a two-year Master’s in Artificial Intelligence. UL will support Orla’s elite rowing through a sports scholarship during this time. 

“I am excited to combine my passion for food science with cutting-edge AI technology to drive innovation in the food industry.”

What does it mean for Ruth and Orla, as mother and daughter, to be graduating alongside each other this week? 

“It’s very special, it means everything to me,” Ruth said. “I am extremely proud of Orla and what she has achieved ��ɫ��Ƶ. She managed her degree in Food Science and Health, while managing the demands of an elite athlete in rowing. I am very proud to be graduating with my daughter and know she is proud of me.”

Reflecting on this milestone in both her and her Mum’s life, Orla said: “It’s hard to put into words just how special this moment is. My Mum has always been one of my biggest inspirations, not just in life but in my academic journey too.

“Beyond that, I grew up watching her balance so much - raising three children (all of whom have gone on to build exciting futures), working a full-time nine-to-five job, and completing her doctorate in her spare time. Her dedication, work ethic, and ability to achieve so much while supporting us as a family have always been a source of motivation for me.

“To now be standing beside her in our gowns, celebrating all that we’ve both achieved, fills me with pride and gratitude. I am unbelievably proud to call her my Mum and to share this milestone with her.”