Chuck Feeney’s ‘transformative impact’ on University of Limerick celebrated

A LANDMARK celebrating the ‘transformative impact’ philanthropist Dr Chuck Feeney had on University of Limerick has been unveiled.

The main thoroughfare on the University of Limerick campus has been renamed ‘Feeney Way’ to highlight the Irish American philanthropist’s legacy and his ‘giving while living’ philosophy.

Dr Feeney, from New Jersey and who pioneered the concept of duty-free shopping in the 1960s, gave more than €1.5 billion to projects in Ireland via The Atlantic Philanthropies, which was wound up in 2017 after he reached his ‘life-long ambition’ to give away his fortune of some €7.6 billion.

UL President Professor Kerstin Mey, founding president Dr Ed Walsh, UL Foundation Chair Harry Fehily, and Dr Feeney’s son Patrick and biographer Conor O’Clery – attending on the 91-year-old’s behalf – were among those in attendance at the event honouring The Atlantic Philanthropies founder and his contribution to the University.

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

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Professor Mey said: “University of Limerick’s status as a research university in Ireland and indeed globally would not have been possible without Chuck Feeney’s giving while living philosophy. His is an exceptional story of giving – around €8 billion towards philanthropy, for education, youth, health, and human rights globally.

“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, this University campus, over 18,000 students and 2,000 staff would not have been possible were it not for Chuck Feeney’s generosity.

“The new Feeney Way is more than a thoroughfare, it is a philosophy, it is more than a road, it is a story. That story and Chuck’s generosity, his practice of giving while living has been the key catalyst influencing the development of the wonderful campus we see around us today and he had a transformative impact on UL.

“It’s right that we do acknowledge him 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.