DUBLIN PORT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME CELEBRATES 21ST ANNIVERSARY

DUBLIN PORT COMPANY HAS AWARDED MORE THAN €1.2 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP LOCAL STUDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO THIRD LEVEL EDUCATION SINCE 2001.

Dublin Port Company recently celebrated 21 years of its Scholarship Programme, making it the longest running education bursary of its kind in the city’s Docklands area. It was set up by Dublin Port Company in 2001 to

Since 2001, the programme has awarded more than €1.2 million to applicants living in the port area, enabling them to progress to third level education.

“Dublin Port Company is extremely proud to have the longest running scholarship programme in the Docklands area,” noted Edel Currie, Community Engagement Manager, Dublin Port Company. “Education scholarship programmes are extremely important to the local community because they would be considered disadvantaged and not everyone has was the reason why the scholarship programme began 21 years ago.”

Professor Patrick Drudy, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin, described the programme as “one of the most impressive initiatives I’ve ever been involved in”. He described how providing students with a “little leg-up”, which could mean covering their travel expenses or the cost of books, can make a huge

MORE THAN 1,250 BURSARIES AWARDED

With 24 new bursaries granted for 2022, Dublin Port Company has now awarded scholarships to more than 1,250 local recipients, including school leavers and mature learners.

Recipients who might not otherwise have pursued higher go to college,” admits Sibhéal Toner, a previous recipient of the scholarship. “The Port Scholarship enabled me to study law and I don’t think I would have been able to do it, or I would have had to drop out, without it. It gave me a leg-up in life.”

A recent recipient of the Scholarship, Ben Greene, feels that “It encourages people to study to go to third level education.”

Sibhéal agrees: “It lets people explore what they want to do with their lives.”

Yet another recipient, Hannah Goulding, acknowledged how “Being awarded the Port Scholarship enabled me to chemistry, so I was able to get lab equipment and a laptop that enables me to type up my lab reports every further study have since gone on to complete a range of third level courses, including Business Studies, Law, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Chemistry, Architecture, Music, and Sociology. Many of the scholars have completed their studies at leading Irish universities, including Trinity College, UCD and DCU, as well as at colleges in England and Wales.

Milestone Celebration

The 21st anniversary was recognised at an event held in The Pumphouse in Dublin Port in November 2022. The occasion brought together scholarship recipients and alumni, and was attended by local community leaders, school and third level representatives, as well as those working in youth outreach.

event to be held at The Pumphouse. The Pumphouse heritage area in Dublin Port represents a continuation of Dublin Port Company’s Masterplan commitment to integrate with the city and the community, providing new civic amenity and space for a range of arts, cultural and educational programmes to be announced in the year ahead.

Longstanding Support For Education In The Community

Speaking at the event, Michael Sheary, then Acting Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, emphasised how Dublin Port’s Scholarship Programme has made “a lasting and positive contribution to the Port’s communities over the past 21 years. By giving people the added encouragement and means to reach their potential through education, each scholarship has not only opened up access to further study, but also the opportunities in life that follow. This is, therefore, not just a milestone year, but a celebration of the community that has made the Scholarship Programme such an enduring success. I am chosen paths in the years ahead.”

Michael stressed that “Dublin Port always had a very strong ethos of supporting education and always understood the importance of education in the development of people.”

His words were echoed by Sinn Féin President and TD for Dublin Central, Mary Lou McDonald, who also spoke at the event, highlighting how “the image of a port as an access point is so appropriate for an organisation that supports learning in this way.”

“This great initiative, this bursary, isn’t just a good idea; it’s a great idea and I wish it great success for the next 21 years,” Mary Lou continued. “Gifting this Scholarship and assisting our young people is how we are going to change and better our country; that’s how we are going to meet our potential.”

At the event, attendees also learned more about Dublin Port Company’s longstanding support for education and lifelong learning in the port community ‘from cradle to grave’. This includes the Early Learning Initiative for preschool children from the inner city at the National College of Ireland, educational materials and tech supports for local primary schools, an art engagement programme for secondary students at Ringsend College, homework club and grinds for English, Irish and Maths in East Wall, Drawing Clubs for both senior citizens and school-going children in Ringsend and East Wall, and a Maritime Skills

Training course for people from the Docklands, including the long-term unemployed.

Real Benefits For Real People

Programme has proved in real terms for those involved:

Programme has opened both doors and minds to educational opportunities that might otherwise have remained shut. It’s hugely rewarding when we learn of the success stories that stem from this small but important springboard that started with a decision by Dublin Port Company to give back to the community 21 years ago. Today, it is the individual scholarship recipients who give back to their community. By bringing home their experiences and success, they are inspiring a new generation to realise their ambition through further learning.”

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Students from Ringsend College have been among the recipients of the Scholarship since its launch in 2001. Jonathan Walker, Principal of Ringsend College, emphasised the links between the students and Dublin Port: “Every student has a brother, a sister, a mam, a dad, an uncle or a grandparent who has worked in Dublin Port. There aren’t that many big organisations that really hire local and invest local in the way that Dublin Port continues to do.”

Making A Real Impact

The Scholarship and the wider Port/City integration projects undertaken by Dublin Port as part of its Masterplan 2040 have had a real impact. “Dublin Port has opened itself up to the community in a big way,” noted Professor Drudy. “It’s astonishing what they’ve done. Community development is a central element in the work of the Port and long may that continue.”

Edel Currie encouraged students to apply for the Dublin Port Company Scholarship Programme: “If you’re living in the is for you. Dublin Port Company are here to support all students within the docklands area going forward.”

Applicants to the Scholarship Programme are assessed by an independent panel based on several criteria, including candidates’ motivation and commitment, and not solely on academic achievement.

Previous recipients of the Scholarship are also encouraging students to apply. “The application process is quite straightforward,” noted Hannah, while Sibhéal argued that “the worst that can come out of it is a ‘no’ and the best is a helping hand with books, with transport; whatever it is that you need is there, so you might as well take it with both hands.”

Indeed, Sibhéal perfectly sums up the value of the Scholarship Programme and the support provided by Dublin Port: “Programmes like this make people want to

These types of programmes allow students to excel.”