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UL President Professor Kerstin Mey leads tributes for Chuck Feeney, remembered as 'the most giving of men' UL President Professor Kerstin Mey leads tributes for Chuck Feeney, remembered as 'the most giving of men'

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University of Limerick pays tribute to ‘the most giving of men’ following the passing of Chuck Feeney

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UL President Professor Kerstin Mey leads tributes for Chuck Feeney, remembered as ‘the most giving of men’

University of Limerick President Professor Kerstin Mey leads tributes for ‘the most giving of men’ following the loss of philanthropist Chuck Feeney

University of Limerick President Professor Kerstin Mey has paid tribute to the Irish-American philanthropist Chuck Feeney following his passing, remembered as “the most giving of men”.

“I am sure I speak on behalf of the entire University of Limerick community past and present in expressing our sorrow at the loss of one of the most giving of men in Chuck Feeney.  

“I was fortunate to meet him and his wife Helga as recently as March in San Francisco and it was a privilege to spend some time with him.


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“I want to offer my sympathy on behalf of the institution to his family and to celebrate a truly extraordinary legacy that he leaves behind as an inspiration to all.”

Through Atlantic Philanthropies Chuck Feeney gifted in the region of €150m to the UL Foundation, which has been transformational to the campus, the city and wider region.

He was the catalyst behind the establishment of the University of Limerick Foundation in 1989 and was a long-time Foundation Board Member.

“Chuck Feeney’s giving while living philosophy is at its heart an exceptional story of giving – around €8 billion towards philanthropy, for education, youth, health, and human rights globally,” Professor Mey said.

“As the son of Irish American parents, maybe it is no surprise that over €1 billion of philanthropic support went to Ireland, and UL has been one of the main beneficiaries. At its simplest, the University of Limerick campus, over 18,000 students and 2,000 staff would not have been possible were it not for Chuck Feeney’s generosity.”

The main thoroughfare through University of Limerick was this year named ‘Feeney Way, in honour of Mr Feeney’s practice of giving while living.

‘We wanted to acknowledge Chuck with the Feeney Way dedication; for one, because we are hugely appreciative for what he has done for UL, this region and for Ireland and this was ultimately where his ‘Giving While Living’ started,” Professor Mey added.

I know we join with a huge community of colleagues in education, health, youth support and human rights organisations all over the world in humble thanks to an incredible man.

The Irish Universities Association (IUA) paid tribute in a statement, saying, “Through the opportunities they provided, Chuck Feeney and Atlantic Philanthropies have left a huge legacy in Ireland and our universities value and remember his transformative contribution to education and research.”

The IUA noted the support provided by Chuck Feeney in what “created the bedrock for a knowledge revolution in Ireland”.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

find out more about Chuck Feeney here.
Read more stories here.

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