THE late Ashling Murphy will be remembered by her alma mater, Mary Immaculate College (MIC), as it teams up with the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) to offer a new entrance scholarship in her honour.
The Ashling Murphy Scholarship was launched at the INTO Education Conference at the Tullamore Court Hotel recently. Ashling, from County Offaly, had graduated as a primary teacher from Mary I just three months before she was tragically killed.
The scholarship will be jointly awarded by MIC and the INTO to the amount of €4,000. It will be a bursary awarded to a First Year Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) student for their exceptional achievement and talent in the field of traditional Irish music.
Speaking at the announcement of the scholarship, Professor Eugene Wall, President of the college, said: “In launching this scholarship, we will continue to cherish Ashling’s memory and her many accomplishments, her love of music and her skills as an educator. Ashling exemplified the qualities of what it means to be an excellent primary teacher. She was warm, caring, vivacious, conscientious and so lavishly talented. We’re uniquely fortunate in this country to attract student teachers of Ashling’s calibre and we are pleased that this scholarship in her memory will benefit those who share Ashling’s passions.”
General Secretary of the INTO John Boyle said: “Adored by her pupils, respected by her peers and admired by so many in her native County Offaly and beyond, we felt it was important to honour Ashling Murphy’s memory in a lasting way. On behalf of our members across the country, we hope this scholarship will serve as a lasting tribute to Ashling, her family and all who knew her.”
The launch of the scholarship follows a commitment by Professor Wall to create an annual scholarship in Ashling’s memory. Professor Wall made the pledge at a special vigil held at Mary I in January, which was attended by Ashling’s family, friends, class-mates, the Minister for Further & Higher Education, Simon Harris and the wider public.
Applications for the scholarship will open next Wednesday, November 30. The closing date is September 1 on the year of entry to Mary I. Full details are available on Mic.ul.ie.