Boston-based CEO returns to his native Limerick and former school to honour students

TWENTY-six students have been honoured for their “remarkable achievements” at an annual event, which saw the founder of the programme attend at his former school in Limerick.

Thomond Community College students were honoured at the annual Greaney Family Bursary Awards ceremony, which saw businessman David Greaney, a Limerick native now based in Boston, attend.

The Greaney Family Bursary Awards was established by David as a way of giving back to his former school and community. 

David is the founder and CEO of Synergy, a Boston-based real estate investment and services company. His family’s ongoing support for education is said to have made a “significant difference” in the lives of students since the bursary programme began in 2016.

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The event, which honours academic excellence and dedication, took place at the school and they welcomed David Greaney with his wife, Stephanie, daughter Ella-Louise and extended family and friends for the first time since 2019.

At the awards ceremony, David spoke fondly about his time growing up in Caherdavin and attending the school, which was known then as St Nessans Community College. 

“A great education opens up so many doors and provides opportunities that many people don’t have,” he said. 

“I wanted to give back to this great school that gave me so much and recognise academic success and effort across all year groups. It’s been a privilege to see the impact these awards have had over the past seven years.”

The Greaney Family Bursary programme awards a total of €27,500 annually, supporting students from first year through to sixth year. 

The top five achievers in each year group are recognised, with bursaries ranging from €500 to €2,000. 

During the ceremony, past bursary recipients had the opportunity to share how the awards had positively impacted their lives and opened doors for further success. 

One of these was Aimee Aherne, currently a psychology student at University of Limerick (UL), who said: “The Greaney Family Scholarship has not only supported my college fees but also motivated me to strive for excellence. It has opened up many doors for me, and I look forward to a future in clinical psychology, thanks to the foundation it has helped provide.”

Sarah Hannan, now completing her final year in Technology Management, noted how the bursary encouraged her to persevere through her studies. 

“Being recognised in third year inspired me to keep working hard through fifth and sixth year,” she said. 

“The financial support allowed me to focus on my education without the worry of expenses, and for that, I am deeply thankful."

After the bursary awards, David and Stephanie Greaney were presented with two books of short stories written by students from the Junior Cycle Schools Programme (JCSP) Library at Thomond Community College. 

Acknowledging this, principal Vivienne Hogan said: “Our motto, ACE; Appreciate, Celebrate, and Educate; reflects our commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals. 

“Today’s event not only celebrates academic achievement but recognises the diverse skills and talents of our students, from sports and the arts to leadership and scientific research.”