In Pictures: Limerick students give top marks to JP McManus for his support during Covid-19

MORE than 20 former students from Coláiste Mhichíl in Limerick city were presented with JP McManus scholarships at the first in-person awards ceremony since 2019.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Francis Foley was among those who attended the gala event at Adare Manor last Friday night while Hurler of the Year, Diarmaid Byrnes - a past pupil of Coláiste Mhichíl - was the guest of honour.

In his address to the almost 300 invited guests, he said “Don’t underestimate your value and stay honest to yourself. Being yourself, the bright students that you are, will stand the test of time and you’ll go a long way. If I can offer any advice going forward, it’s to be yourself, be nice, be honest and enjoy it.”

On the night, a total of 24 scholarships were presented to former students from the Leaving Certificate classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Former student Eoghan Moore, a member of the Covid-disrupted class of 2020, spoke at the awards ceremony on behalf of all 24 recipients.

He said confirmation, in June 2020, that scholarships would be awarded despite the closure of schools and the cancellation of traditional Leaving Cert exams was a major boost for students attending Coláiste Mhichíl who faced uncertainty.

"On behalf of all 24 recipients, I would like to express my gratitude to JP and Noreen McManus for keeping the door open on the scholarships for us at a time when many doors were closed because of Covid-19," he said adding: "Winning a JP McManus scholarship is a great moment. Not only does it give you the financial security over the course of your four-year degree, it also provides a gateway into employment opportunities,”

Another scholarship recipient, Kingsley Ikeh, who is studying Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at UL, added: “The scholarship has made a really meaningful impact on my life – it helped me to focus more on my studies and I can’t thank JP enough for it.”

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School principal Denis O'Connor said the generosity of the McManus family to support the scholarships means a huge amount to everyone at Coláiste Mhichíl.

"You can see the amount of students who came from the school in the past and where they have gone in life and JP is ensuring that the next generation of students will have all the opportunities," he said adding that there is a deep sense of gratitude from the entire school community - particularly given the experiences over the last three years due to Covid-19.

The JP McManus Scholarships, which are administered by a number of trustees, were first established in 1996 and since then 209 students have been awarded scholarships.

Deputy Niall Collins, Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, presented the scholarships to each of the recipients.