Presentation of the Order of Merit

The Faculty was delighted to see Prof. Dr. Gisela Holfter, co-founder & director of the German-Irish Studies Centre, receiving the Bundesverdientskreuz in recognition of her work on Irish-German relations. She was awarded the Order of Merit by H.E. Mrs Deike Potzel, Amassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ireland at a reception in the Garden of the Residence of the German Embassy. The Bundesverdienstkreuz award, the Federal Order of Merit of Germany, was given to Gisela for her long-standing and impactful work in Irish-German relations. Derek Scally of the Irish Times noted as follows: “With her research into bilateral links, Holfter has arguably done the most to bring Germany and Ireland together since Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll”. This was a sentiment which was re-echoed by the Ambassador at the event yesterday. Gisela’s colleagues and friends, Professor Fischer, Dr Conacher and Dr Krajenbrink were also in attendance from the Faculty to share in the joy of her success, and lovely too that our President, Professor Mey, could attend.