Mayor of Waterford City & County Council John Cummins presenting Prof Louise Richardson with an engraved Waterford Crystal Vase on the occasion of her Civic Reception last Monday. Also included are her parents Arthur and Jackie Richardson and brother, Shane Richardson.
Tramore native, Professor Louise Richardson, a renowned political scientist and an expert on international terrorism, who assumes the Vice-Chancellorship of the University of Oxford next year, was afforded a Civic Reception in Waterford City Hall on Monday last.
Prof Richardson, who later delivered a compelling Waterford Treasures before a packed 400-strong Theatre Royal audience, was proposed for the motion to receive this honour by Cllr Lola O’Sullivan (FG)
“Professor Richardson, your appointment as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews is an extraordinary achievement about which the people of Waterford were extremely proud and pleased,” she said.
“Your forthcoming Vice-Chancellorship of Oxford University is one of, if not the greatest honour, that can be bestowed on any academic, heartfelt congratulations. And as a fellow Tramore woman, I am delighted to propose you for this honour this evening.”
“The second-oldest university in the world, Oxford has never had an Irish Vice-Chancellor in its long history and what a great honour it is for you Professor Richardson to be appointed the first.
“It is also a great honour for your family and indeed for the people of Waterford City and County that one of our own should reach such a prestigious post in this great and distinguished seat of learning.”
Cllr O’Sullivan added: “This is a world of few constants, where peace is fragile. A world where terrorism is bent on inflicting not only great human suffering often on the most vulnerable – children and old people – but also, in a recent sinister development, on the destruction of objects and monuments that stand as icons of our civilisation.
“Your work on terrorism, Professor Richardson, has given all who have taken the time to engage with it, the opportunity to gain some insight into and understanding of what drives the terrorist. You have contributed enormously to the world debate on terrorism and your voice of reason is a beacon of hope for the future.”
Seconding the motion, Cllr John O’Leary (FF) stated: “Education, the pursuit of knowledge, challenging the status quo, pushing the boundaries of our understanding, imagination, ingenuity are the building blocks of civilisation and for centuries, universities have been at the very core of Humanity’s quest to built a better, safer, healthier and more prosperous society. Oxford University has been centre stage in this.
“However, institutions, great seats of learning, do not in themselves effect change. They are facilitators – creating the atmosphere – they are the laboratories of change and understanding. However it is people of course who make them work! It is individuals who provide leadership and direct these great houses of learning to be forces for positive change for greater understanding and progress.”
Cllr O’Leary continued: “Professor Richardson, you follow in a long line of distinguished scholars from Waterford city and county – Geoffrey of Waterford the great Dominican scholar of the 13th century, the great 17th Century scholars Luke Wadding, Archbishop Peter Lombard, Robert Boyle of the famed Boyle’s Law, Cardinal Nicholas Wyseman another great university person, Ernest Walton and John Hearn, author of our constitution and the best legal mind of 20th Century Ireland.
“You, Professor Richardson, continue into the 21st Century this tradition of internationally-acclaimed scholarship, attaining the pinnacle of achievement and recognised by the greatest academic institutions in the world.
“You have not only brought great honour to yourself and to your very supportive family but also to us, the people of Waterford. We are all very moved by and proud of your remarkable achievements. Wherever people will talk of great Waterfordians your name will be among them.”
During her well-received lecture, Prof Richardson described the United States’ reaction to the 9/11 attacks as “a mistake”, which had served to create only greater levels of militant activity in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has contributed to the crisis in the Middle East, currently focused on Syria.
She described the so-called Islamic State as “staggeringly successful” with respect to their propaganda operation, largely conducted through the internet, through which they have screened beheadings and the destruction of ancient sites, including the Roman site at Palmyra. She advocated the engagement of local communities to defeat IS, citing Iranian opposition to the group, while also referencing ongoing American efforts to extol opposition from Saudi Arabia. Unlike the Israeli Government, she does not foresee a terrorist getting his hands on a nuclear weapon and also believes a two state solution in Israel/Palestine is likely given the ongoing mistrust between both governments, the ongoing problems regarding Gaza and Iran’s ongoing support for Hamas.
Prof Richardson also stated that the overspending on security in the post 9/11 climate had led to an increase in fear among ordinary citizens, with the oft-reported new threats leading to increased infringements on “the liberties of ordinary citizens in democracies”.
