Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

The University of Galway’s Israel problem is not going away. It’s getting worse. Fast.

The university’s reputation – something it always tried to robustly protect – has taken a battering over its links with Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology.

In the early days when the Technion ties became public, the university must have felt it had contained the situation.

But it has now escalated to a crisis after two high-profile honorary degree recipients refused to accept the award.

Galway actress, writer  and director, Olwen Fouéré, and Derry filmmaker, Margo Harkin, both withdrew from yesterday, Thursday’s conferring ceremony on grounds of conscience.

Both women recognised what a fantastic honour it was to be awarded an honorary degree at University of Galway. Both felt compelled to reject it.

It would have been easier to stay quiet. But both well-known and respected professionals in the arts world bravely opted to use their voice to shine a spotlight on what has become a stain on the University of Galway.

Harkin’s announcement was made on Monday; Fouéré added to the University’s woes when she followed suit on Wednesday.

In separate statements, the pair mentioned genocide in Gaza; and they urged the University President and Governing Body to cut its links with Technion.

They also cited the on-campus Irish Centre for Human Rights, which promotes justice in Palestine.

Their high profiles attracted headlines at home and abroad, piling more pressure on the University of Galway. At the time of writing, a third refusal of an honorary doctorate had emerged, Professor Kerby Miller. The historian is unlikely to be the last.

The reason, as highlighted consistently by Campus Anti-Genocide (CAG) Coalition in the past year, is the University of Galway’s contractual partnership with Technion.

Technion is linked with Israel’s military industrial complex, which continues its massacre in Gaza, despite a ‘ceasefire’.

CAG has underlined the ‘cruel incongruity’ of the research connection with Technion. Signed in December 2024, this relates to ‘treatment and purification of water sources’ while Israel was depriving people in Gaza of access to water.

The University has never defended Technion. It has argued, based legal advice it won’t publish, that it cannot renege on the contract.

The new President David Burn and Údarás na hOllscoile gave commitments about contracts going forward, but this has not satisfied CAG, which comprises mostly staff and students, and Galway supporters of Palestine. They want the link with Technion severed.

Expect more protests at conferring ceremonies. Expect more high-profile ‘de-conferrings’ too.

Artist and anti-war campaigner Margaretta D’Arcy, weeks before her death last Sunday, was first to hand back the honorary degree she had received in 2022.

She set a trend, along with her fearless friend, filmmaker Lelia Doolan, who also returned her award to the University. Their actions for Palestine had a snowball effect that gathered momentum this week.

The University of Galway prides itself on the calibre of people to whom it has awarded honorary degrees, Nelson Mandela and Hilary Clinton among them.

The brave actions of Margaretta, Lelia, Olwen, Margo, and Kerby – and the CAG Coalition – showed you can be honourable and linked to the University of Galway, without having an honorary degree.

Pictured: Artist and peace activist Margaretta D’Arcy  received an Honorary Degree from the University of Galway in 2022. Just weeks before her death last Sunday, she returned it because of the university’s ongoing links with the Israel Institute of Technology, Technion. Her friend Lelia Doolan did likewise and, as of yesterday, Thursday, three recipients due to be conferred this week had refused the honour on similar grounds.