2023 MIC Awards Ceremony celebrates almost 150 students and graduates

More than 150 students and graduates celebrated at MIC Annual Awards Ceremony 2023. Pictured are Maebh O’Shea from Kildimo, Co. Limerick, Emily O’Halloran from Castletroy, Co. Limerick, Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, Hannah Ryan from Corbally, Limerick, Katie Allman Moriarty from Tralee, Co. Kerry, Kate Ryan from Ballina, Co. Tipperary, and Graham Shorten from Enniskeane, Co. Cork. Pic: Arthur Ellis

Achievements of almost 150 students and graduates were celebrated at MIC Awards Ceremony with close to €600,000 in scholarships and bursaries presented

The achievements of almost 150 students and graduates were celebrated at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) on Tuesday 28 November, with close to €600,000 in scholarships and bursaries presented—the highest total amount bestowed at the College’s annual awards night.

Congratulating all those who received awards was Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC, who said, “I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of our awardees on your success. This ceremony is a most significant occasion, marking as it does one of the highlights of our academic calendar, as we celebrate the various achievements of our current students, recent graduates, and alumni, all of whom have made an outstanding contribution to society.”

Four MIC alumni were among those celebrated at the event, in recognition of their achievements since graduating.

Limerick’s Petula Martyn who presents the business news on Ireland’s most listened to radio programme, Morning Ireland was one of the alumni celebrated on the evening. After graduating from MIC in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts, she worked with Limerick’s Live 95FM and then the Limerick Leader newspaper before joining RTÉ as a multimedia journalist in 2011.

Congratulations to this year’s MIC College Award winners including our 2023 Alumni of the Year – Hurler Declan Hannon, Fashion Designer Miriam Keegan Journalist @petulamartyn and Footballer Tomas O’Shea. Thanks to our brilliant staff @MICLimerick #MICCollegeAward pic.twitter.com/aNMwXaqce6— Prof. Niamh Hourigan (@niamhhourigan1) November 29, 2023

Another Treaty County representative celebrated on the evening was Limerick hurling Captain Declan Hannon who has overseen the Treaty’s remarkable dominance of the sport in recent years and holds five All-Ireland medals, six Munster titles and three All-Star awards, to name but a few of his sporting accolades. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from MIC, Declan decided on a career in recruitment and is the National Recruitment Manager at Unijobs.

Legendary Kerry footballer Tomás Ó Sé, holds five All-Star awards, five All-Ireland titles and nineteen Munster Championship medals and is widely regarded as one of the best players of the modern game.

Miriam Keegan, from Emo, Co. Laois, is a leading sustainable fashion educator, designer, business developer and advocate, and Miriam has since become Head of Sustainability at Irish fashion brand, Aoife Mc Namara.

Over €100,000 in total was presented to 53 first-year students who received an MIC Entrance Scholarship on the basis of their impressive Leaving Certificate results. A further nine deserving students who have excelled in their chosen sports were presented with Munster GAA bursaries, valued at €750 each.

Sarah Ryan from Tipperary Town was awarded the Rachel Kenneally Bursary, which is awarded annually in memory of former MIC student and Tipperary Ladies Footballer, Rachel Kenneally. MIC’s five Elite Sports Scholars were celebrated on the night: Irish hockey player, Anna Horan; Kerry Ladies Footballer, Aoife Dillane; Irish athlete, Thomas Devaney; Mayo Ladies Footballer, Sinead Walsh, and Limerick U20 hurler, Cian Scully. Additionally, Clare Senior Hurler, Diarmuid Ryan and Waterford Camogie player, Niamh Murphy were presented with the MIC GPA Sports Scholarship worth €4,000—awarded to two Gaelic Players Association members who are undertaking postgraduate study at MIC.

A wonderful night last night where a number of our past pupils were recognised by @MICLimerick We are very proud of them all & delighted to see @DecHannon receive the MIC Alumni of the Year award & Diarmuid Ryan was awarded the MIC GPA Scholarship pic.twitter.com/n9243oypyT— Ardscoil Rís Limk (@ArdscoilRisLimk) November 29, 2023

Three PhD candidates were collectively awarded €165,000 by the Irish Research Council to fund their doctoral research. Grace Cardiff, from Bridgetown, Co. Wexford, Ciara Moloney from Co. Longford, and Cappamore native, Sinead O’Mahony was awarded funding for her PhD within the School of Education, entitled ‘Middle Leadership in Irish Primary Schools: A Critical Analysis of Principals’ Perspectives’.

Three further doctoral researchers were awarded a Doctoral Research Scholarship in Professional Learning for Teachers and Other Education Professionals which supports research on any aspect of practitioner learning and continuing professional development. Lorraine Diggins from Sixmilebridge in Co. Clare, Mary Hanley from Glenroe, Co. Limerick and Norma Lenihan from Croagh, Co. Limerick were all presented with their awards on the night.

Three postgraduates were awarded funding for their studies at MIC: Hilary Dolan from Clarecastle, Co. Clare was awarded an MIC Doctoral Award; Wonder Kofi Abzigbli was awarded a Doctoral Studentship, and Muhammad Shareef Shazil was awarded a Postgraduate Studentship.

MIC’s Postgraduate College of Sanctuary of Scholarships were awarded for the first time this year and were presented to two recipients. The scholarships aim to support International Protection Applicants, refugees, and migrant groups to pursue postgraduate study and consist of an annual stipend of €3,000 and a full fee waiver.

“A proud moment of celebration for our students, graduates, staff, families & friends” – Prof. @niamhhourigan1 welcomes a full house for #MICCollegeAwards @LimeTreeTheatre this evening pic.twitter.com/X2yp9EwuOl— Mary Immaculate College (MIC) (@MICLimerick) November 28, 2023

Aisling White from Kilmallock, Co. Limerick was the recipient of the Shellie Murtagh Memorial Bursary. The fee waiver and bursary of €500 is awarded to a postgraduate student wishing to pursue their dissertation in the area of autism and is funded by the family of Shellie Murtagh and MIC. Shellie was a Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) student and sadly passed away from cancer in November 2013. Shellie’s father, Éamonn Murtagh presented Aisling with her award.

Anna Purcell from Rathdowney, Co. Laois received the TOMAR Trust Award which is valued at €8,500 over four years.

Recent graduates of the Faculties of Arts and Education were presented with awards for topping the class in their subject or specialism and seven current students were awarded the Saint Bonaventure Trust Prize, which recognises the academic excellence of students studying Theology and Religious Studies.

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