Congratulations to Dr. Sindy Joyce.
University of Limerick student Dr. Sindy Joyce has become the first member of Ireland’s Travelling community to graduate from university with a post-doctorate qualification.
She graduated yesterday (14 January) through the University of Limerick’s Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences faculty.
Joyce’s fantastic achievement was noted today on the official Twitter account for the University of Limerick, which shared several quotes from the woman herself.
Speaking after the ceremony, Joyce said: “Today is a day of mixed emotions for me. On the one hand, I’m really proud to be the first in the Mincéir (Traveller) community to receive a doctorate, but on the other, It’s kind of sad that it’s taken until 2019 for it to happen.”
Joyce also spoke about the attitudes faced by members of her community in pursuing academic achievements, saying: “I do understand that coming from the indigenous Mincéir community it’s difficult to not be considered as one. Things are often 10 times harder for us, we’re judged 10 times more by people.”
“So we know that when we go out into the world and do something like this, we are representing the whole community –whether we like it or not. The community is represented as a collective, and not as individuals.”
"Today is a day of mixed emotions for me. On the one hand, I’m really proud to be the first in the Mincéir (Traveller) community to receive a doctorate, but on the other, It’s kind of sad that it’s taken until 2019 for it to happen." – Dr @SindyLJoyce #ULGraduation pic.twitter.com/tmEjTCrV1a
— University Of Limerick (@UL) January 15, 2019
In the same ceremony, Irish cultural figures Marian Keyes and Bob Geldof were also honoured with honorary PhDs from UL.
“Hi everyone, the soon to be Dr @MarianKeyes here in UL. Grand day so far.” #ULGraduations pic.twitter.com/hQDrbFR1ST
— University Of Limerick (@UL) January 14, 2019
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