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The 18th annual UL Alumni Awards Gala Dinner took place on 26 September at Limerick’s Castletroy Park Hotel, celebrating the achievements of the 2025 UL Alumni Award recipients: trailblazing jockey Rachael Blackmore, three-time Olympian Thomas Barr, humanitarian Joseph Kinahan and activist Tomás Heneghan.

This year’s awardees join a prestigious group of just 56 alumni who have been honoured in this way since the awards began in 2006. The Alumni Awards programme was established to recognise graduates who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

Speaking at the event, Acting UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins hailed the “extraordinary achievements” of each recipient, who he said had “each made a profound contribution to society”. He continued, “You remind us of what is possible when talent, purpose and perseverance come together. You are the embodiment of the values we hold dear ��ɫ��Ƶ: leadership, dedication, compassion and service. Your achievements remind us of the transformative power of staying the course, the value of your engagements with education and the extraordinary potential of our alumni to shape a better world. You are the bridge between past and future. You are the living legacy of this university. And you are the architects of its next chapter.”

Over 200 guests attended the event, which was supported by event partners Analog Devices, Stryker, Unijobs and the UL Foundation. The evening was hosted by UL alumna and broadcaster Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh.

2025 UL Alumni Awards Recipients:

Thomas Barr – (BEng Mechanical Engineering and MSc Sports Performance – 2014, 2016) - Outstanding Achievement – Sport

Thomas is one of Ireland’s most decorated track and field athletes. Specialising in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay, the Waterford athlete represented Ireland at three Olympic Games and earned multiple international medals.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Thomas produced a stunning performance in the final of the 400m hurdles to finish fourth, setting a national record of 47.97 seconds and a lifetime best for the proud. a record that still stands. In 2018, he won bronze at the European Championships, becoming the first Irish male sprinter to medal at an outdoor European event. In 2024, he helped Ireland win gold in the mixed 4x400m relay at the European Championships and bronze at the World Relay Championships.

Rachael Blackmore – (BSc Equine Science - 2015) - Outstanding Achievement – Sport

Rachael has become one of the most iconic figures in National Hunt racing. Her trailblazing career includes historic victories as the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle (2021), the Aintree Grand National (2021) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (2022). She also became the first woman to be crowned leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, amassing 18 wins at the iconic festival across her career.

The Killenaule, County Tipperary native’s achievements have earned her global recognition, including BBC World Sport Star of the Year, RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year and an honorary MBE for her contributions to sport. Rachael’s partnership with trainer Henry de Bromhead and legendary horses such as Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard and Minella Times defined her career and inspired millions.

Tomás Heneghan – (BA Joint Honours and MA in Journalism – 2015, 2018) - Outstanding Achievement – Society

Tomás has led landmark legal challenges that reshaped Irish public policy. From a small family farm in Castlegar, on the outskirts of Galway city, Tomás has used the law and personal stories to force national changes. His activism has resulted in expanded voting rights for Seanad Éireann elections and the removal of discriminatory blood donation bans.

Tomás began his career and activism ��ɫ��Ƶ, where he served as Editor of An Focal and developed a passion for justice and equality. He has worked in journalism, data protection, and financial services, and remains active in LGBTQ+ advocacy and community sport.

Joseph Kinahan – (BE Electronic Engineering – 1986) - Outstanding Achievement – Humanitarian

Joe Kinahan has dedicated the past 13 years to transformative humanitarian work in maternal health across Sub-Saharan Africa. After a successful 20-year career in Silicon Valley with Analog Devices, Joe transitioned to full-time voluntary service as Executive Director of the Maternal Health Foundation (MHF), driven by a profound commitment to women’s health and social equity.

Most recently, Joe is expanding into Sierra Leone, partnering with established Maternal Health Africa to use state of the art medical technology and satellite connectivity using a hub-and-spoke model to transform rural emergency obstetric care.

View a slideshow of images from the evening