Eight of the best scoop McManus scholarships

THE JP McManus Scholarship Awards went international last night with two of the eight recipients having been born in Poland and Togo.

The top eight Leaving Cert students at Mr McManus’s old Limerick school, CBS Sexton Street, are awarded the scholarships and to date 96 students have benefited.

Each of the 2008 scholarship students receive awards worth €6,750 for each year of their third-level studies.

Education minister Batt O’Keeffe made the presentations last night at a function in the Dunraven Arms in Adare.

The non-Irish recipients were Mawuli Boevi and Mateusz Grodzicki.

Mawuli’s family moved to Co Limerick from Togo and he plans to study Music Technology at the University of Limerick (UL).

Mateusz’s family came to Limerick two years ago from Poland and he too plans to study Music Technology at UL.

The scholarship winners also included Jonathan Clohessy, Carey’s Road (Law and Taxation Law at Limerick Institute of Technology); Jamie Kerley, Ballysimon Road (Business at UL); Robert Lee, Lisnagry (Theoretical Physics, Trinity College); Barry McNamara, Rathbane (Business at UL); Liam McNamara, Garryowen (Sport and Exercise Science at UL); Jamie Richardson, Castletroy View (Business at UL).

JP McManus said: “I am happy to report that 58 scholarship winners have graduated from third level education and I feel humbled to have played a small part in their endeavour which has brought them to this stage in their lives.”

Minister O’Keeffe said JP McManus acknowledged the contribution of CBS Sexton Street to his own success by setting up the scheme.

He said: “A scheme such as this not only gives recognition to the achievements of the recipients of the awards, but also the hard work of the trustees who administer the scheme, Eddie Fallon, Gerry Boland and Pat Hartigan.”

CBS Sexton Street principal, Noel Earlie said this year’s award recipients demonstrated the school’s international dimension.

Mr Earlie added: “Our first international winners reflect the inclusive nature of the school.”

He paid tribute to the teaching staff at Sexton Street for the huge part they play in the success of students at the school.

Guest of honour at the awards ceremony was Eddie Fallon who retired from the CBS teaching staff in 1998.