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Impact Report

Chairman’s Welcome

As we reflect on the past year since our last Impact Report, we are reminded of the profound loss of our friend and founding chair, Dr. Charles F. Feeney.

Chuck’s extraordinary generosity over the course of his lifetime is evident throughout the campus. The stunning Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, the Foundation Building housing the University Concert Hall, the School of Medicine, and the Bernal Institute are just a few examples of the lasting impact of his contributions. We were very fortunate that Chuck was still alive to witness the naming of UL’s main campus road as the Feeney Way in March last year, symbolising the path to all that his inspiration, energy, and funding have made possible.

His influence has been a beacon of light, and our 2024 Impact Report is evidence of the generosity of so many others this past year. This generosity has been the cornerstone of our success, enabling us to make significant strides in our mission to advance education, research, and community engagement for the economic and social development of the Mid-West and beyond.

Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our commitment and are eager to build on what has been accomplished. With your continued partnership, we are confident that we will achieve even greater heights and create lasting change. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.

Harry Fehily Chairman

Thank you from Director of Development

It is my privilege to present our Annual Impact Report for the year 2024.

This report encapsulates the accomplishments and milestones of the past year, which have been achieved thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, alumni, industry and community partners.

In this report, you will find inspiring stories of impact, highlighting the profound influence of your contributions. Whether it is a student who has overcome significant challenges to achieve academic success or an outreach initiative for the benefit of the community, these narratives underscore the importance of your investment in our University’s future. Each story is a testament to the power of philanthropy and the enduring legacy it creates.

As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to our mission of advancing education, research, and community engagement. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and know that with your continued generosity we will achieve even great success. Thank you for believing in the transformative power of education..

Sarah Hartnett Director of Development

Our Impact with Your Support

€2 million

€2.8 million

183 in new cash gifts received in grants paid scholarships & bursaries awarded

UL Foundation Governance

UL Foundation continues to put good governance at the centre of our work.

— We are a charity registered with the Charities Regulatory Authority (charity number 20024260) and with the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland (charitable taxation number CHY 9688).

Additional oversight is offered by our four specialist subcommittees (Operations, Finance and Risk, Nominations and Remuneration) who convene regularly and report to the Board.

In addition to completing the Charity Regulator’s Compliance Record, we undertake an annual review and refresh of all our policies and procedures.

The Foundation is audited by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC).

Our bank is Bank of Ireland, Castletroy Park, Limerick.

Remembering Chuck Feeney

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing late last year of Dr Charles F. Feeney, Founding Chairman of the UL Foundation and the catalyst behind its establishment in 1989.

Chuck made an indelible mark over many years as a board member, benefactor and friend of the UL Foundation. Through The Atlantic Philanthropies, he gifted in the region of €150m to our Foundation, which has been transformational to the University, the region and beyond.

His great legacy will always be the University’s North Campus initiated by his desire to put the Shannon River at the heart of the campus and not its boundary. Today this campus links Limerick and Clare in becoming the regional capital of higher education in Ireland.

The current Chair of the University of Limerick Foundation Mr Harry Fehily, said; “As the successors of the foundation once chaired by Chuck Feeney, we are deeply moved by his unparalleled generosity and support for the University of Limerick, a legacy he built alongside Ed Walsh. Today, we pause in remembrance of Chuck following the news of his passing. His influence is omnipresent on our campus, where every corner stands as a testament to his vision.”

As we remember Chuck, we bow our heads in humble thanks to an incredible man.

Above Left to right: Chuck Feeney with Frank Rhodes, former president of Cornell University, and Ed Walsh, founding president, UL

Opposite: Members of Chuck Feeney’s extended family on a visit to UL in 2023 with Dr Ed Walsh (centre)

“ Chuck will forever be woven into the fabric of this Foundation, and we are profoundly grateful for his incredible legacy which will touch many future generations to come.”

07 Annual UL Scholarship Award Ceremony

In February, benefactors to the UL Foundation who have supported scholarships and bursaries for UL students the past year were invited to a special award ceremony on campus.

Hosted by UL Provost Professor Shane Kilcommins, scholarship recipients were presented with their awards and had an opportunity to meet with the companies and individuals who are so generously supporting their educational journey.

ARUP Scholarship recipients

BD Scholarship recipients

UL Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 competition

A busy and exciting year of student entrepreneurial activity culminated in a competition made possible through the generosity of Ingenium Training & Consulting and Platt Reilly, and supported by the Kemmy Business School and UL Student Life.

The competition, which took place over two days, was open to students across all disciplines and years, and showcased what is possible when driven entrepreneurial minds combine their academic pursuits with innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit.

The overall winners of this year’s competition were Zack Daly and Justyna Przyborska for Little Footprints, an online sustainable rental website for baby/children’s equipment.

Second prize was awarded to Cillian Fahy and Tom O’Flaherty for Léargas, an entrepreneurial support hub providing a range of services for early stage and student entrepreneurs.

Third place went to Thomas Joyce and Dara Heaphy with Laochra a textbased AI game in Gaeilge to encourage fun learning of the Irish language.

Fourth prize was secured by Kristam Srujith and Harshit Bothra for Blaze an online debit card operating an affiliate model for saving and redemption on products and services linked to the influencer market.

UL’s New Student Centre due for completion in September 2025

JP McManus Charitable Foundation Donates €1 Million in Support of Scholarships for UL’s School of Medicine

UL Foundation was delighted to receive a very generous donation of €1 million from the JP McManus Charitable Foundation in support of the School of Medicine at UL.

The funds will support scholarships for Access students enrolled in the 4-year Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) programme.

This highly innovative curriculum offers students the opportunity to complete undergraduate medical training in 4 years. However, as a graduate entry programme, no government grants are available to students, which is a severe drawback for those from less affluent backgrounds. The financial challenges are made worse due to the very intensive nature of the programme, which means that students are unable to work part-time to earn an income.

We are extremely grateful to the McManus Foundation for recognising the need that exists as well as the importance of encouraging diversity in the medical profession.

A Selection of our Scholarships

Dr Sheila Boland Scholarship in Public Health

Thanks to the generosity of UL Foundation Board Member, Dr Gerry Boland, the Dr Sheila Boland Scholarship was established to reward a a top-performing MSc Public Health student, supporting the student’s practicum placement at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

The 2024 recipient, Mukilan Shanthi Chidambarathanu, worked alongside first responders, who are dedicated to tackling mental health and alcohol abuse-related issues, and collaborated closely with the Tucson Fire Department and the University of Arizona to run a successful alcohol awareness month campaign in April.

Embassy of France in Ireland and UL Foundation Scholarships

Four students on the Bachelor of Education in Languages programme were awarded scholarships in an initiative jointly funded by the Embassy of France in Ireland and the UL Foundation to support future French language teachers in the development of their professional competencies.

The scholarships allowed the students to engage in a four-week immersive teaching and learning programme with CAVILAM - Alliance Française in Vichy (France) in conjunction with the University of Clermont-Auvergne.

AerCap Women in Aviation Scholarship

Aeronautical Engineering student from Dublin, Roisin Philbey, was selected for this year’s AerCap Women in Aviation Scholarship. Roisin will receive a bursary of €5,000 for each year of her 4-year programme, as well as the opportunity to obtain firsthand experience in the aviation leasing industry through an eight-month internship with AerCap.

“AerCap is pleased to continue to support this important initiative with the University of Limerick,” said Denise Mangan-Fahy, Head of Engine Portfolio & Rental Operations. “Our aim is to build a strong pipeline of diverse talent through programs such as this, and to encourage more women to choose an aviation career, particularly in the area of engineering. We look forward to welcoming Roisin to AerCap.”

Students Receive Awards under Scholarship Programme Supported by BD Research Centre Ireland

Global medical technology company, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) through its BD Research Centre Ireland (RCI), awarded 10 scholarships and bursaries to UL Access students.

Under the programme, four female students studying science and engineering received the BD Bursaries for Women in STEM and six students were awarded the BD Scholarships in Science and Engineering based on academic achievement. Recipients of the bursaries and scholarships can also opt to have a professional mentor at BD.

Lidl German Language Scholarship

The Lidl German Language Scholarship at UL was awarded to three students this year: Kate Flynn (first prize), Emma Lynch (second prize) and Julie Cizek (third prize). The application was open to all 4th year students studying German language, either as a major option or as their main language.

Matheson Scholarship in Law Plus

Ciarán Cronin, a first year undergraduate student studying Law Plus, has been named as the winner of the 2024 Matheson Scholarship in association with the University of Limerick.

This scholarship was launched in 2022 as part of the celebration of UL’s 50th anniversary and is open to first-year Bachelor of Law students. The winner receives an award of €5,000 for the academic year, along with a position on Matheson’s First Step programme, a dedicated programme for undergraduate students.

Our New & Welcome Partnerships

Canadian software company, Ideon Technologies, has established the Brad Duffy Scholarship in memory of a valued colleague and UL graduate of Bachelor of Engineering in Design & Manufacture. The scholarship will support a socio-economically disadvantaged undergraduate student who is registered with the UL Access Office.

Technical services company, Aero Inspection, has introduced the Future of Aviation Scholarship to support and inspire the next generation of aerospace innovators. The award will support a first year undergraduate student enrolled in the BE in Aeronautical Engineering programme

The Fidelis Partnership have introduced a fantastic new scholarship programme for eight exceptional students across Risk and Insurance, Business, and Computer Science undergraduate programmes. Students receive not only financial support, but also valuable industry insights into the world of reinsurance and specialty insurance through internship and mentorship opportunities.

Leading global provider of payments and financial technology solutions, Fiserv, has introduced a new scholarship for a 2nd year BSc/MSc In Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning student. In addition to an award of €5,000, students are offered tuition support, industry mentorship and a summer internship.

Irish-owned company, Chemifloc, has introduced the Ed Storey Scholarship in Chemical Sciences, which will offer a 3-year scholarship to a talented second year UL Chemical Sciences student with the possibility also to complete cooperative placement with Chemifloc at its Shannon HQ.

Shannon based company, Provizio, has introduced a new award for first-year students enrolled in UL’s BSc in Immersive Software Engineering programme. The student with the highest points in the Portfolio submission receives a scholarship valued at €10,000.

Opposite: Fidelis Partnership scholarship programme recipients

Supporting a wider range of projects than ever

— Companies Bidvest Noonan and Kirby Group have generously provided support for a new Student Sustainability Challenge which encourages students to develop projects that address key sustainability issues.

— Thanks to the support of our donors, we were able to give funding to the UL Students’ Union in the development of a Sensory Room in the Student Centre for neurodivergent students.

. Google generously supported expansion of the CodePlus project at Lero, which engages with parents and guidance counsellors of female second-level students to inform them about the opportunities in the technology and software sectors.

The Fidelis Partnership provided funding assistance to the UL GAA Club with an emphasis on UL Camogie.

— With donations received from University of Limerick alumni, we were able to support the UL Mature Student Office to help alleviate the cost-of-living increases on mature students, in particular those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Power of Philanthropy

“Moving to Ireland was one of the hardest things I have done in my life but I have evolved so much in these past few years. I am so grateful to everyone that was involved in my life and my growing process, and you are a great part of that journey.”

“I hope to make you proud, without your help I would not be able to achieve all my future dreams.”

“I am happy to say that after receiving the scholarship award, I achieved my highest grade to date. This would not have been impossible if I had been financially dependent on my part-time job at home, and I cannot thank you enough.”

“I am so grateful that you have selected me for this scholarship. As a result, I can quit my part-time job and dedicate myself fully to my studies and extracurricular activities. Being free on the weekends will allow me to hone my skills further and reach my potential.”

“After completing my course, I want to start my own medical device company, and I can now devote my time to preparing myself for that after graduating. Finally, I will remain a campaigner for diversity and inclusion in all my current and future endeavours.”

“I plan to use the given funding on accommodation to live close to campus to help eliminate a long commute to college.”

“This scholarship also takes a serious financial burden from both my parents’ and my shoulders. I have been working every summer and most weekends since I was fourteen trying to earn and save money and this scholarship affords me the freedom of not having to worry about tuition fees for the next two academic years. I am truly grateful.”

“This scholarship will aid my studies in General Nursing as between university fees, accommodation fees, expenses while on placement, textbooks, occupational health appointments, nursing equipment and uniforms, the costs really do add up. I will be forever grateful to have won this award as it will reduce the financial burden on my family.”

“It means so much to receive this scholarship. The last few years have presented some financial challenges after my father passed away. Also, my mother cannot work many hours due to disability, so our financial situation has been difficult over the years. Your support will hopefully help me with accommodation as I do not have a car or license yet. I may also use the money to help with school fees. I greatly appreciate your support through this scholarship. It will go a long way to relieving the financial burden and I am very privileged and proud to have been selected.”

“I am profoundly grateful for your support. I promise to approach my studies with dedication and use this opportunity to the greatest extent possible. Thank you for seeing my potential and giving me this opportunity.”

About the Foundation

We are an independent organisation, supporting world-class education through philanthropy at the University of Limerick.

Our Board comprises local, national and global leadership:

Mr Harry Fehily

UL Foundation, Chairman & Managing Partner, HOLMES

Dr Gerry Boland

Chartered Accountant

Ms Anne Alexis Coté Taylor

Health Care Professional (retired)

Mr Cian Cotter

Managing Director, Insight Partners

Mr Aongus Hegarty

Independent Director, Chair & Strategic Advisor

Dr Loretta Brennan Glucksman

Philanthropist

Ms Rose Hynes

Company Director

Mr Mark C Kennelly

CEO, Golf Ireland

Prof Shane Kilcommins

Acting President, University of Limerick

Prof Brigid Laffan

Chancellor, University of Limerick

Dr James P McCarron Jr

MD FACS, Diplomate, American Board of Urology

Mr Richard A Meaney

Former Senior VP, Analog Devices Inc.

Mr James S Normile

Partner, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Mr Michael D O’Keeffe

Owner, The Water Club Restaurant & the River Café, NY

Ms Kathleen M O’Toole

Consultant, O’Toole Associates LLC

Mr Ralph Parkes

Investor & Property Developer

Dr Michael J Tiernan

Managing Director, Tiernan Properties

Dr Daniel P Tierney

Founder & Director, Industry Research & Development Group

Mr David Tierney

President & CEO, Aramis Bioscience

Dr Edward M Walsh

Founding President, University of Limerick

Mr Niall Murphy

Secretary, University of Limerick Foundation

We were delighted to welcome two new directors to our board during the year

UL’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

celebrated its 30th anniversary this year

A special celebration took place on the 22nd/23rd October with symposium sessions, engaged workshops and performances, including the book launch of ‘Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin: A Life in Music’, edited by Helen Phelan, Marie McCarthy and Nicholas Carolan.

Mr Aongus Hegarty

Dr David Tierney