Tadhg Beirne recognised with DCU Alumni Award

Munster and Ireland rugby player Tadhg Beirne was presented with his 2025 DCU Alumni Award by President Dáire Keogh at a special ceremony.

Tadhg Beirne, a native of Eadstown, Co. Kildare, studied Business at DCU while building his rugby career at the Leinster Rugby Academy.

He made his Leinster senior debut in 2015 before joining Llanelli Scarlets in Wales in 2016.

There he played a vital role in winning the 2017 Pro12 title which earned him the PRO14 Players’ Player of the Year award. In 2018, he returned to Ireland, joining Munster and making his national team debut against Australia.

He has since become a cornerstone of Munster and Irish rugby, known for his versatility in both the second row and back row.

DCU President Professor Dáire Keogh, DCU Executive Director of Engagement Laura Mahoney, Munster and Ireland rugby player Tadhg Beirne, Interim Executive Dean of DCU Business School Prof Theo Lynn, DCU Director of Alumni Relations Ross Munnelly

A natural leader, he was one of the driving forces in Munster’s United Rugby Championship victory in 2023 – the province’s first trophy in 12 years – before being appointed captain of Munster in 2024

He has now appeared over 60 times in the green of Ireland winning Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2024 and appearing in the rugby World Cups of 2019 and 2023, as well as being selected for the British & Irish Lions tours of 2021 and 2025, earning Player of the Series in the victorious 2025 tour.

(L-R) 2025 DCU Alumni Award winners Niamh Donnelly (BEng Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, 2013 Co-Founder and CTO, Akara Robotics), Justin Kelly (Masters in Business Administration, 2018 Garda Commissioner, An Garda Síochána), Ann Jackson (Bachelor of Education, 1989 Diploma in Special Education, 1977 Former Principal, Former Executive Officer of Irish Association of Teachers in Special Education) and Tadhg Beirne (BA Business Studies, 2014, Munster and Ireland rugby player)

The DCU Alumni Awards honour alumni who, through their exceptional ability and leadership, have achieved excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour, and the 2025 Alumni Award recipients represent all five faculties of study at DCU (Business School, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Institute of Education, Faculty of Science and Health and Faculty of Engineering and Computing).

On receiving his Alumni Award, Tadhg Beirne said;

“It’s a huge honour, especially seeing the other people on the Alumni Wall, people who’ve achieved so much in their careers, to be up alongside them is a massive honour. To get to come back here and be presented with it, was very special… My time here was different. I was juggling the rugby side and college side, so the time I did spend here was generally trying to catch up on work or projects. I did really enjoy my time here. The advice I give is probably enjoy college while you can. The time goes fast. If you can enjoy it and work hard, you’ll definitely reap the benefits afterwards.”

Ross Munnelly, Director of Alumni Relations at DCU, said:

“We are proud to see our alumni continuing to uphold Dublin City University’s strongest values. In Tadhg’s case he has represented Ireland and excelled on the world stage, bringing joy and inspiration to supporters all over the country. We are especially proud of his commitment to studying during the early stage of his career, and leading the way on balancing academic and sporting excellence. He is a very worthy recipient of this DCU Alumni Award.”

EY sponsors the DCU Business School awards to Tadhg Beirne, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly (Masters in Business Administration, 2018) and CEO of Ryanair DAC, Eddie Wilson (BA Business Studies, 1986).