Memory of bright student kept alive with scholarship
The Liam O’Regan Scholarship will reward students who show similar dedication and diligence as the young man who died just weeks after completing his Leaving Certificate.
The 18-year-old had been playing for his local club Ballinora, a few miles from Cork city, when he collapsed and died in June 2006. He was diagnosed four years earlier with a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes excessive thickening of the heart muscle.
His funeral was attended by GAA president Nickey Brennan, a friend of Liam’s parents, Liam and Ann, who are natives of Co Kilkenny. Liam wore the Cats’ jersey while sitting his exams at Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown.
Liam’s family collected his results from the school six weeks after his death, to find he had achieved six higher level As, which gave him 570 out of 600 points for college.
One of those As was in French, a subject for which he also studied with Essential French language college in Cork city.
The college’s directors have established the €1,000 scholarship in their former student’s honour and Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe has awarded it to the first recipient, David O’Connell who completed his Leaving Certificate in June at Douglas Community School.
“Liam excelled academically and the award acknowledges this. David’s success is well deserved and we wish him every success,” said college director Natasha Lynch.
David got an A in French and has recently accepted a place on UCC’s biochemistry degree course. “I was truly honoured to be chosen, particularly as the scholarship commemorates Liam’s hardworking spirit and dedication,” he said.
The O’Regan family and friends have raised more than €10,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation since his tragic death.
The foundation is encouraging people to organise walks in their own community for World Heart Day on Sunday, October 5.
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