Former US President Bill Clinton has received an honourary Doctorate of Philosophy from Dublin City University (DCU).

At a ceremony at The Helix, the founder of Glen Dimplex Martin Naughton and homeless campaigner Sr Stanislaus Kennedy were also awarded the honourary doctorates.

Composite image shows (from left to right): Martin Naughton, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy and Bill Clinton | Image: DCU

Mr Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States and founder of the Clinton Foundation.

He's also credited with playing a vital role in peace talks for Northern Ireland.

In his speech, Mr Clinton said history seems to be repeating itself: "The world again is awash in the very thing that we were trying to get around in the Good Friday Accord - and you have been kind enough to give me this degree because I did what I could to make it happen".

"A raging conflict had gone on between two communities in Northern Ireland, infesting the politics of the Republic and the politics of America - and everywhere there was a larger Irish Diaspora - all rooted in the simple proposition that what really mattered to their identities was their religious, political and philosophical differences".

Never a dull moment at DCU #clintononcampus pic.twitter.com/0kj12rRgNV

— DCU (@DublinCityUni) October 17, 2017

He also said global communities need to be embraced.

"Some thought needs to be given before we abandon community to return to tribe - you can keep your tribe.

"Everybody that knows me at home knows I'm - on my mother's side - Irish, everybody that knows me knows I grew up in the south.

"They also know that I think life is a lot more interesting in a diverse America than it was when everybody who had any swot was somebody who looked like me: an old grey-haired white guy.

"You don't have to give up your tribal identity to respect the larger humanity, without which the world will not continue to thrive".