Award winning author, Colum McCann and acclaimed Irish pianist, John O’Conor were today conferred with Honorary Doctorates from Dublin Institute of Technology at the DIT Spring Graduation.

The two recipients were chosen by DIT to receive an honorary doctorate for their outstanding achievements and their contribution to the arts which have “enriched our lives and have drawn the attention of the world to the richness of music and literature for which Ireland is so justly recognised” Professor Brian Norton said in his speech at St Patricks Cathedral.

Distinguished Irish musician John O’Conor was selected by DIT to receive an honorary doctorate in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the world of music performance and music education. John is Frequently cited as the greatest living interpreter of the piano music of Beethoven, Dr. O’Conor is currently Professor of Piano at RIAM, and holds the position of Visiting Professor in Showa University of Music in Japan. He is also Professor of Piano, and Distinguished Artist in Residence, at the Conservatory in Shenandoah University, West Virginia. A co-founder of the Dublin International Piano Competition, he is Chairman of the Jury for the competition which has been running since 1988.

Colum McCann is the internationally acclaimed author of the novels Zoli, Dancer, This Side of Brightness, Songdogs, as well as Let the Great World Spin, for which he won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2011. The former DIT Journalism graduate was being honoured for his “inspiring teaching of creative writing and belief that creative writing is something that cannot be taught.”

Both honoraries were surrounded by family and friends on the day they received their honorary doctorates.