University of Limerick has sent a message to all their graduates ahead of the graduation ceremony asking them to send a recording of how they pronounce their names, to avoid any mistakes on the day when called to collect their parchment.
The UL Ceremonies Office posted on social media: “Hey Caoimhe, are you tired of telling people it’s ‘Kee-va’, not ‘Kwee-va’? Let us know! “We are asking upcoming grads to record your name on NameCoach, so it is pronounced correctly when called to collect your parchment on stage.”
Speaking on national and local radio programmes last week, UL Ceremonies Manager, Aelish Nagle, said that the move ensures Irish names are pronounced correctly as well as international students’ names. The students can make and send the recordings using NameCoach software, which is used by 90 per cent of universities in the USA, as well as in schools and hospitals.
Ms. Nagle revealed that student feedback was very positive. She said: “Getting people’s names right is the best thing you can do, it can only work in your favour... it's for international students but also Irish names”.