Paul O’Connell is a doctor, it’s science.
O’Connell was today made an honorary doctor of science by his alma mater, the University of Limerick.
The doctorate may be the only piece of paper he ever gets from the university as, with every passing year, it looks less and less likely he will return to that engineering degree he deferred more than a decade ago.
The degree can take pride of place on the wall of O’Connell’s Toulon abode whenever he pitches up in the south of France to begin the Indian Summer of his career.
His Ireland career was cut a game-and-a-half short when he tore his hamstring from the bone early in Ireland’s Pool D win over France and he is likely to be out of the game for several months.
O’Connell is the latest in a long line of Irish sports stars to be awarded honorary degrees and while O’Connell’s (distant) engineering background makes his science doctorate a logical choice, we examine what some other notable doctors of sport were honoured for.
Brian Cody, Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa from Dublin City University
Brian Cody likes to give the impression that Kilkenny hurling has no guiding philosophy: it’s just 15 men against 15 men and may the best 15 men win. But it’s all a ruse. You don’t win 11 All-Irelands since 1998 without having a very definite philosophy on how you like to see the game played. Retired from his day job of teaching now, Cody has more time to dedicate to the game and if he carries on at this rate he will go down as one of the great philosophers, alongside Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Pep and Rodgers.
Brian O’Driscoll, Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa from Dublin City University, honorary degrees for services to sport from Irish University and Queen’s University
We all know BOD’s a philosopher, just as we all know that knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. But Ireland’s most-capped player is so much more, with some going so far as to crediting the former Leinster man with single-handedly building the popularity of professional rugby in this country. That might be over-egging the pudding, but two different universities have already credited him with degrees for services to sport. BOD may have to single-handedly build an extension to have somewhere to hang all his parchments.
Declan Kidney, Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa from University of Limerick
Awarded to the former Ireland head coach in the wake of the historic Grand Slam of 2009, Kidney subsequently took up a job as director of sport at University College Cork when he was sacked by Ireland. That’s Kidney, a consummate pro, he’ll go where the work is. A legend at Munster after winning two Heineken Cups in his second term, Kidney’s first spell at the province saw him leave to take up a post as Ireland assistant coach which didn’t go brilliantly. Then there was a blink-and-you-miss-it spell at Dragons and a single season at Leinster. Academia may not hold this lifelong coach.
Martin O’Neill, honorary doctorate for services to sport from Queen’s University
Roy Keane, honorary Doctor of Laws from University College Cork
O’Neill’s award dates back to 2005, after he had resigned from Celtic, and recognised his managerial record at Leicester City and in Glasgow, as well as a playing career that involved captaining Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup and winning two European Cups with Nottingham Forest. His career subsequent to receiving his degree has taken in underwhelming spells at Aston Villa and Sunderland, but if he guides the Republic of Ireland past Bosnia next month and into Euro 2016 he can expect to be showered in degrees.
Roy Keane was awarded his honorary doctorate in law back in May 2002, before leading Ireland to the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea. Law. After being honoured in law he decided to fight it in Saipan. He fought the law and nobody won. Law.
