Death of ICOS President of Honour, Dr Patrick Hillery
The Chair, Directors and staff of the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) would like to extend their deepest sympathy to Dr Maeve Hillery and family on the death of her husband Dr Patrick Hillery, former President of Ireland and esteemed President of Honour of ICOS since 1978 (30 years).
Dr Hillery’s interest in international students and their welfare in Ireland became evident during his term as Minister of External Affairs from 1969 - 1972 and indeed his influence assisted in the formal establishment of the Irish Council for International Students in 1970. As President of Ireland between, 1976 and 1990, Dr Hillery graciously hosted a number of ICOS led visits of international students to Áras an Uachtaráin.
President Hillery hosts international students at Áras an Uachtaráin (1990)
Groups of students who had the honour of visiting and meeting the President included many students from Africa who were studying in Ireland under the sponsorship of the country’s bi-lateral aid programme as it was then called.
On completion of his second term as President, ICOS was honoured that Dr Hillery expressed the wish to continue his association the organisation and we are greatly saddened by his passing and the loss of an important long-time supporter of international students and advocate of education generally.
Dr Hillery with former ICOS Chair Professor Louis Smith at ICOS 25th birthday celebrations(1996)
Ar dheis Dé go raibh anam dílis
Sheila Power, Director
Tel: (01) 660 52 33