Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been awarded a honorary doctorate from Dublin City University for what it described as his extraordinary contribution to public life.
DCU Chancellor Brid Heron said the university was celebrating Mr Kenny as a man and as a political leader, and said she hoped his story of "triumph and resilience" would inspire students there.
She also said that it takes bravery to be involved in politics and "guts" to be a leader and the university wanted to celebrate that at a time when politicians are being increasingly derided and attacked amid a rising tide of authoritarianism.
Dr Eoin O'Malley of DCU's School of Law and Government said Mr Kenny could be regarded as one of Ireland's most successful Taoisigh.
He said the former Taoiseach's leadership of the country during the economic crash surpassed expectations, and his "sunny" attitude and "personable" approach helped Ireland to emerge from the recession.
He said because he had not always been taken seriously and overlooked in the early part of his career, Mr Kenny's path to leadership involved a certain amount of luck, but Dr O’Malley said he believed Ireland had been "lucky" to have him as a leader at a difficult time in its history.
Accepting the doctorate, Mr Kenny said that he never thought this would happen and joked that the next time he goes to Athens he could sit with the likes of Socrates as a Doctor of Philosophy
He said he was "privileged and genuinely honoured" to received the award as a graduate of St Patrick's Teacher Training College, which is now part of DCU.
Mr Kenny said two things in his lifetime - free education and joining the EU - led to an "explosion in opportunities for young people" in Ireland.
"Be proud as parents and be proud as teachers that you’re sending out an unprecedentedly confident young cohort to argue our case anywhere around the world," he said.
He also said there is no reason why Ireland cannot take a "quantum leap" to be a leading centre for research and education.
Ireland will 'weather tariff storm'
Mr Kenny added that he believes Ireland will "weather the storm" of US tariffs.
He said he believed politics is about people and having the capacity to listen to what people are saying and that Ireland will form new alliances, such as with the incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose grandfather was from Mayo.
"The Government here have taken a very clear line on this and Ireland will weather this storm I've no doubt, because if we're good at anything it is about relationships with others," Mr Kenny said.
"While there are serious challenges, there are also immense opportunities so for the young generation, I would say, don't be afraid of this. In previous times, previous generations were faced with what were seemingly overwhelming problems and yet you come through that.
"In 2011 we moved from practically junk status to being one of the wealthiest countries in the world. So while the politics have certainly changed dramatically, Ireland as an entity, as a country and as a member of the EU will look at the challenges we face and make the right decisions in the interests of our people and the people of the European Union."
Presidential bid ruled out
The former Taoiseach also ruled out a run for the Presidency later this year, saying he was sure that Fine Gael would have plenty of "strong characters" who he said would make great Presidents, an office he said requires a very particular type of personality.
"Under the constitution, I was bound to go the the President to explain what was going on in politics. I always enjoyed visiting Áras an Uachtaráin. I never had an intention of seeking to become a tenant there.
"That requires a very particular type of personality and for me, who had the privilege and honour of being Taoiseach twice, I would have no intention whatsoever of running for the Presidency," he said.
Asked about Fine Gael and its party leaders declining performance in the polls, Mr Kenny said that you have good and bad days in politics and that he himself spent "years in the wilderness".
He believes that Simon Harris will be in Taoiseach again as part of his party's agreement with Fianna Fáil.
"You have to believe in yourself, you have to believe in what you stand for and you have to believe that you have the capacity to overcome things and I have no doubt that Simon Harris will be Taoiseach again and get on with the job of leading the people, leading the nation, explaining what you're doing and having their backing," he said.
