Berlin Gay Pride parade. “The lads were delighted with their week’s wage for only three hours’ work,” he smiles. Taxback.com emerged from the needs his clients had, on their return to Dublin, to get their tax back. Now, the company employs 950 staff between its headquarters in Kilkenny and 27 offices around the world. Trinity helped facilitate Clune’s early entrepreneurial projects as he studied by day and used the computer rooms by night to run his business. He also used his environment to its full advantage by seeking advice and support from some of his lecturers. His experience at Trinity is the reason he likes to stay involved and support the College as an active
Trinity Today 2013 p1-80.indd 33
member of the alumni community. One of the projects he is currently supporting is the website Coursehub.ie, created by Trinity student Georgina Smithwick. Coursehub enables prospective students to make an informed choice about which university to choose by collating reviews from current students about everything from course content to the social life in different colleges. As he looks back now, Clune can’t stress enough how glad he is that he completed his degree as he very nearly didn’t finish his studies in BESS due to the fact that he was working on Taxback.com as well as other sideline projects such as running student discos. “I have met so
Taxback.com
950
members of staff
27
international offices
322,000 tax returns every year
many people over the years who regret not having completed their university degree. I’ve travelled a lot for business and there is no doubt that having a qualification from Trinity stands to you.”l
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