UCD Professor Kathleen Lynch named as one of Catherine Connolly’s 7 appointees to the Council of State.
Dr. Kathleen Lynch, a UCD Emeritus Professor of Equality Studies, has been appointed to Irish President Catherine Connolly’s Council of State.
Prof. Lynch, a sociologist who helped found UCD’s Equality Studies Centre, is one of 7 appointees to the presidential advisory body. She also served as a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, having been appointed in 2020, and is on the Executive Council of the Global Forum for Rehumanizing Education.
The Council of State consists of serving, and former, high-ranking state officials including Taoisigh, Tánaistí, Chief Justices, and Presidents. Under Article 31 of the Irish Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) the President is also allowed to nominate some members to also serve on the Council.
The Constitution requires the President to convene with and receive advice from the Council of State whenever they want to perform any duty other than dissolve Dáil Éireann.
Prof. Lynch is described by the President as being guided by the belief that research is not just about understanding the world, but also changing it “for the good of all humanity”, having “devoted her life to advancing equality and social justice”
Lynch will be joined on the Council of State by former UCD Accounting Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh who was also among the 7 nominees. Other appointees include law professors Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Colin Harvey, Conor O’Mahony, and Donnacha O’Connell, and Protestant Irish language activist Linda Ervine.