1894 -1975, President of University College Dublin (1947 – 1964). Received award in the context of centenary of the foundation of the Catholic University. Member of the Council of State 1940 – 1944. Born on a small farm at Ballymacward, Co. Galway; awarded travelling studentship to UCD; classics at Sorbonne, Athens, and Berlin; Dept. of Classics, UCD, 1915; Prof. of Greek, 1923, Member Knights of St Columbanus. Member Committee on Vocational Organisation 1939- 1944. Cumann na nGaedheal, TD for N. Mayo, 1925; National University of Ireland TD, 1927-32; senator 1938 – 1944, vice-chairman of Senate, 1939-44; president of UCD, 1947-1964; Tierney gave shelter to Peter, son of Dr. Hugo Friedjung, who with his wife were exterminated by the Nazis. Shortly after Dr Michael Tierney commenced his term of office in 1947 the College made one of the most important decisions in its history – that UCD would move out of the centre of Dublin to a suburban site worthy of the national institution, which was playing a major role in the development of Irish society. By 1949 the first of many purchases at the Belfield site on Stillorgan Road was made. Joseph Downes, Professor of Architecture from 1943 to 1950, drew up plans for the development of the 123-acre site. Dr Tierney’s vision and tireless work came to fruition in September 1962 when the first sod was turned at the Belfield campus. The opening was an auspicious occasion, attended by President Eamon de Valera (member of the Supreme Order of Christ) and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Charles McQuaid.Author of Daniel O’Connell (1949), and Struggle with Fortune (1954). One of his most renowned works, A Tribute to Newman: Essays on Aspects of his Life and Thought, reflected Dr Tierney’s acute interest in all aspects of university education. He is buried, like so many other papal knights, in Deansgrange Cemetery. (Image courtesy of UCD Archives. Tierney/MacNeill Photographs. LA30/PH/238.)
