Northern Ireland

SDLP stalwart Frank Feely finally enjoys graduation more than 60 years on

SDLP veteran Frank Feely following the conferring ceremony at NUI Galway, with granddaughter Tara. PICTURE: Aengus McMahon
SDLP veteran Frank Feely following the conferring ceremony at NUI Galway, with granddaughter Tara. PICTURE: Aengus McMahon SDLP veteran Frank Feely following the conferring ceremony at NUI Galway, with granddaughter Tara. PICTURE: Aengus McMahon

SDLP stalwart Frank Feely, one of the founding members of the party and a former mayor of Newry, finally attended his graduation ceremony, more than six decades after gaining his degree.

The 84-year-old former history teacher, civil rights activist and long time councillor was recognised by NUI Galway alongside his granddaughter Tara Savage, just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Mr Feely won a place at the university in 1955, aged just 17, but was unable to attend his conferring ceremony in 1958, partly as he managed to secure a job at St Colman’s College in Newry within weeks of graduating.

He successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts in history, Irish and English before joining the school as a history teacher, later rising to head of department.

Mr Feely was heavily involved in politics from the late sixties, playing key roles in the civil rights movement and the founding of the SDLP in August 1970.

He was among more than 1,700 graduates to return to the Galway campus for the Autumn Conferring. The university believe he is one of the oldest graduates to have attended a conferring ceremony.

While the conferring was planned for months, family members, including Ms Savage, managed to keep it a secret from Mr Feely until they arrived for the ceremony yesterday.

Mr Feely said: “I am very happy and incredibly grateful to be able to share this wonderful occasion with my granddaughter Tara.

“I loved the ceremony and to see the large number of people there today. When I was here in the 1950’s there was only a few hundred of students studying altogether, and most were male.

“But today about 70% were female so it’s fantastic to see the developments that have happened over the years."

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, NUI Galway president, said: “I am aware of Mr Feely’s regret at not being able to attend his own graduation ceremony with his classmates and it is a great delight that we got to play a small part in his celebration as he took to the stage with his granddaughter today.”

A Newry and Mourne councillor from 1979 to 2015, Mr Feeley was a key player in securing city status for Newry in 2002 and was its first mayor.