Mother and daughter graduate on same day

Mother and daughter Ruth Buckley and Orla Gaffney recently celebrate after a double graduation from UL’s Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Ruth was conferred with a Doctorate of Engineering (Apprenticeship), alongside her daughter Orla Gaffney, who was conferred with a BSc in Food Science and Nutrition. They are two of more than 3,600 students to graduate as part of the 2025 Autumn Conferring Ceremonies.

Ruth, a graduate of Computer Science from University College Cork, worked as a programmer in the banking sector in Dublin and London before joining Cork City Council over 20 years ago as their first head of Information Technology and is now in the role of Chief Information Officer.

She later completed an MBA at Henley Business School in the UK and through her work, had the opportunity to undertake various public official programmes at Harvard Business School and the East China Normal University in Shanghai.

Sport has always played a central role in the Buckley Gaffney household, where Ruth and her husband Michael have proudly watched Orla and her siblings, Eoin and Áine, represent Ireland in rowing at home and abroad.

“I was inspired to take up rowing in 2012 by my brother, who represented Ireland four times at world level, and I began my own rowing journey at Shandon Boat Club,” Orla said.

“Over the years, rowing has shaped my discipline, resilience, and teamwork skills, and I’ve been fortunate to represent Ireland three times in the past three years, winning four national titles along the way.”

Alongside sport, Orla has been curious about how food fuels the body since she was a child.

“I vividly remember helping my parents in the kitchen, asking endless questions about why certain foods made me feel more energised or helped me recover faster after training.

“As my rowing became more competitive, I became increasingly aware of how nutrition could influence performance, recovery, and overall health.”

Orla was also influenced by her mum Ruth’s involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) outreach activities, such as iWish, a community which organises events and activities designed to encourage young women to consider a career in STEM.

“Mum is a co-founder of iWish. I still remember attending one of her events in 2019, when I was in transition year, and feeling so inspired listening to the speakers share their stories. It was one of the first times I truly saw the possibilities that a STEM path could offer.”

For Ruth, a PhD was always something she wanted to do, but before taking it on, she considered the impact it would have on her own personal capacity and her family.

Ruth’s doctoral thesis focused on cybersecurity.

“My current role as Chief Information Officer at Cork City Council is constantly changing with the introduction of new technologies and processes,” she explained.

“I liked the concept of a doctorate programme that was designed for people in the workplace, working full time, but which allowed the freedom to research immediate or emerging organisational challenges.”

Looking ahead, Ruth plans to share these learnings with colleagues with the aim of enhancing cyber security and resilience in her sector.

Orla will shortly begin a role in Quality Assurance with the Kerry Group Graduate Programme in Charleville, and will continue her studies at UL with a two-year Master’s in Artificial Intelligence. UL will support Orla’s elite rowing through a sports scholarship during this time.