Ruth Negga and Rhiannon Giddens Receive Honorary Doctorates from University of Limerick

Acclaimed actress Ruth Negga and Grammy Award-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens have been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Limerick (UL) at a ceremony held on Monday, February 16, 2026 [1]. Both were conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by UL’s Chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.

A Homecoming for Ruth Negga

Ruth Negga, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and raised in Limerick from the age of four, expressed her humility and gratitude upon receiving the honor. She noted the significance of the award given her family’s connection to the city [1]. Negga studied acting at Trinity College Dublin before achieving international recognition. Her breakthrough role came in Neil Jordan’s 2005 film, Breakfast on Pluto, and she gained prominence in Ireland for her portrayal of Roise in RTÉ’s Love/Hate in 2011 [4]. She has since appeared in productions such as Misfits, a BBC biopic of Dame Shirley Bassey, Preacher, and Loving, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress [4]. Her performance in Passing garnered 35 nominations and 12 wins in 2021, and she received a Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut in Macbeth in 2022 [4].

Rhiannon Giddens’ Impact on Irish Music

Rhiannon Giddens, a two-time Grammy Award winner, has been a resident of Limerick for the past four years and serves as artist-in-residence at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL [1]. Giddens expressed her delight at receiving the doctorate, highlighting the connections between American music and Irish storytelling [1]. She is recognized as one of the 25 Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century and has dedicated her career to amplifying marginalized voices in music history [3]. Giddens’ work includes challenging dominant narratives and introducing audiences to the contributions of Black banjoists and fiddlers to American music. She also serves as Artistic Director of the Silkroad Ensemble and recently collaborated with Beyoncé on the hit song “Texas Hold ‘Em” [3].

University of Limerick Celebrates Artistic Excellence

Acting UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins praised both artists as “extraordinary” contributors to music, film, theatre, and culture [1]. He emphasized that their work not only inspires admiration but also expands the possibilities for UL students [1]. Professor Kilcommins highlighted Giddens’ contributions to the university through her residency, curriculum development, and support for students, as well as Negga’s representation of the potential for students from Limerick to achieve global success [1].