Tipperary sporting legend among those honoured by University of Limerick

Trailblazing jockey Rachael Blackmore and three-time Olympian Thomas Barr are among a host of ‘extraordinary’ University of Limerick alumni honoured at an awards ceremony.

The first female jockey to win the Grand National, who retired from racing in May, and one of Ireland’s most decorated track and field athletes were in attendance at the 2025 University of Limerick Alumni Awards in the Castletroy Park Hotel this Friday.

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Equine Science graduate Rachael and Thomas, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and Sports Performance were honoured alongside humanitarian Joseph Kinahan and activist Tomás Heneghan at the 18th annual UL Alumni Awards Gala Dinner.

Mr Heneghan, a graduate of UL’s BA (Joint Honours) and MA in Journalism programmes, has led landmark legal challenges that reshaped Irish public policy – including campaigns that resulted in expanded voting rights for Seanad Éireann elections and the removal of discriminatory blood donation bans.

Mr Kinahan, a graduate of Electronic Engineering, 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.

The quartet of awardees join a prestigious group of just 56 alumni who have been previously honoured in this way to date since the event began in 2006. They are part of a global UL alumni of over 136,000 graduates.

Acting President Professor Shane Kilcommins said the event was “a celebration of excellence, of impact, and of the enduring connection that binds us all together as members of the UL family”.

He hailed the “extraordinary achievements” of each recipient, who he said had “each made a profound contribution to society”.

“You remind us of what is possible when talent, purpose and perseverance come together. You are the embodiment of the values we hold dear at UL: 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.

“I want to acknowledge the families, friends and colleagues who have supported our awardees on their journeys. Behind every achievement is a network of encouragement, belief and love. Thank you for being part of that journey.

“This is not only about individual excellence. It is also about collective strength. It is about the power of community. And it is about the more than 136,000 alumni worldwide who form the global heartbeat of this university.

“Looking ahead, our vision is bold. We want UL to be a university that leads with integrity, innovates with purpose, and serves with compassion. We want to deepen our global partnerships, expand our research impact, and ensure that every student who walks through our doors leaves with the confidence to shape the world.”

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Over 200 guests attended the event which was supported by event partners Analog Devices, Stryker, Unijobs and the UL Foundation.

The MC was UL alumna and broadcaster Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh.

2025 UL Alumni Awards Recipients:

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 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.

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..

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 at UL, 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.