Two pioneering women political leaders from Ireland shared their inspiring stories and advice on the importance of bravery as special guests of Worcester State University last week. Councillor Niamh Kennedy of County Donegal and Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr of Derry and Strabane District Council were honored by the university for breaking new ground in public service and encouraged students to take bold steps, emphasizing that courage and determination are key to achieving one’s goals.
The two-day visit included a series of special events, culminating with the university presenting the leaders with honorary doctorates at the
Academic Achievement Awards ceremony in recognition of their contributions to public service, economic development, social justice, and cross-border collaboration.
“It has been a privilege to host these two outstanding women leaders from Ireland on our campus,” President Barry M. Maloney said. “Their dedication to their communities and their trailblazing work in breaking new ground for female leadership is truly inspiring.”
A highlight of the visit was “Profiles in Women’s Leadership,” a lively fireside chat moderated by Dr. Lisa Colombo, chair of Worcester State’s Board of Trustees and chief executive of ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School.
The speakers discussed the challenges they have faced as women in leadership roles, including being underestimated and dealing with toxic social media. They emphasized the importance of resilience, mentorship, and giving young women permission and opportunities to step into leadership positions.
Councillor Kennedy, the first independent female Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of Donegal County Council, spoke about her decision to run
for office without the backing of a political party. “Be brave. Take that leap of faith,” she said when asked to give advice to the students in attendance. “If you have something in your mind that you think that you can do, go for it. There’s nothing wrong with failure, but you will be determined enough that you will not fail.”
Kenyan-born Mayor Seenoi Barr, the first Black mayor in Northern Ireland, reflected on her path to leadership, which was rooted in advocacy
for social justice and human rights. “Remember that any changes happened because ordinary people have taken the brave decision to put themselves forward,” she said. “So please do not wait to be welcomed like I did. Go for it as the best decision you can ever make in terms of representing your community, sharing what you care about, but literally implementing your own vision.”
Kennedy elaborated on her reasons for remaining independent in the political landscape. She felt that joining a political party would not have allowed her to get elected to the council, as it was male-dominated and required substantial time within a party to gain recognition. “The beauty about being independent is that you can think something through and know what’s best for your community and the people,”
Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr, President Maloney, and Councillor Niamh Kennedy at the Academic Achievement Awards
Kennedy said. “Sometimes when you’re in a party, you’re restricted and have to vote a certain way even if you don’t want to.”
Seenoi Barr emphasized the need to challenge traditional ways of thinking to achieve different outcomes. “When people say that things have
always been done in a certain way, my question is always: And how did that go for you? So, we are going to have to do things differently if we want to get a different outcome,” she said. She expressed hope that her legacy would show that “being brave, thinking different and working differently can deliver for you.”
Both leaders spoke about the cooperative relationship between County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and Derry/Strabane in Northern Ireland, seeing the northwest region of Ireland as a shared economic and cultural area rather than as being divided by an international border. They highlighted the seamless movement of people and economic activity across the border, with residents frequently traveling between the two areas for shopping, work, and education.
The leaders have worked to strengthen cross-border collaboration and partnerships, including by linking up tourism offerings along the spectacularly scenic Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coast. They are jointly pursuing economic development initiatives and funding opportunities, aiming to grow the region as a whole rather than just their individual areas.
Kennedy and Senoi Barr said working together offers great benefits, as it allows them to tap into a larger population and economic base of around 350,000 people in the northwest. Rather than staying in silos, they are focusing on shared priorities like strengthening higher education, skills development, innovation, and attracting investment to benefit the entire northwest region.
The visit by Kennedy and Seenoi Barr to Worcester State University was not only a celebration of their individual achievements but also evidence that when women support and empower one another, incredible progress can be made, Colombo said.
“Hearing the perspectives of these two remarkable women leaders from Ireland has been an invaluable opportunity for our community,” Colombo said. “Their resilience, vision, and commitment to collaboration across borders is something we can all learn from.”
Worcester State has a longstanding and growing relationship with academic institutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland, including the nine-campus Atlantic Technological University in northwest Ireland. Worcester State recently signed an academic agreement with Ulster University for its Master of Law degree program. Each year, students in a variety of programs travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland for study abroad programs.
The civic leaders’ visit was part of Worcester State’s efforts to strengthen its international partnerships, including with universities in Ireland. Maloney noted the university’s pride in hosting Kennedy and Seenoi Barr, saying, “The energy and passion they brought to our campus was infectious. Their visit has strengthened the connections between Worcester State and the northwest region of Ireland, and I’m excited to see what future collaborations may emerge from these new relationships.”
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