Mayo scientist receives OBE from King Charles

A MAYO scientist has been recognised in King Charles III's birthday honours.

Dr. Martin Walsh, originally from the Lodge Road in Westport, and son of Carmel Quinn (Walsh), has been awarded an OBE for services to science during Covid-19.

Martin is deputy director of life sciences at Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron source based in Harwell, Oxford.

Martin said he was 'delighted' to receive the award and considered it to be a tribute to the amazing team of researchers with whom he has had the privilege to work with.

The passion and dedication shown by Diamond staff and users who worked during the pandemic investigating ways to identify new therapies was and continues to be inspiring.

Dr. Walsh is a former student of Rice College in Westport and graduated from University College Galway (UCG) with a first class honours degree in chemistry in 1989, and he remained at UCG for his PhD work.

His PhD work was a significant milestone for structural biology in Ireland as it introduced the first protein crystal structures determined from an Irish based research group.

In 2009, he joined Diamond Light Source, with responsibility for life sciences research.

Martin's mother Carmel admitted to being 'shocked' when he told her that she would be accompanying him to Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles.

She said: “He then explained to me about his OBE, which is so well deserved as he has worked relentlessly over the last 30 years in his job.

“We are looking forward to his return to Westport later on in the year where a big party will be organised.”