Eimear Millane and Eilís Ní Iarlaithe pictured with Professor Eugene Wall at the Fulbright ceremony at Iveagh House, Dublin on Thursday.
A MIC postgraduate student and a recent graduate have both been awarded a scholarship from the Fulbright Commission to study in America in recognition of their excellence in academia. Eilís Ní Iarlaithe, from Baile Mhúirne, and Eimear Millane, from Kildare, were officially awarded Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship (FLTA) scholarships at a special ceremony at Iveagh House in Dublin on Thursday.
The Fulbright Programme was established in 1946 and has been annually awarding Irish-US exchange scholarships for sixty-five years. The grants are awarded to Irish citizens to study, research, or teach in the US and for Americans to do so in Ireland in return. Since its formation, over 2,500 postgraduate students, scholars, professionals, and teachers across all disciplines have participated in the programme, which is supported by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and the US Department of State.
Rugadh agus tógadh Eilís Ní Iarlaithe i mBaile Mhúirne i gcroí lár Gaeltacht Mhúscraí. Is cainteoir dúchais í. Bhain Eilís amach an Baitsiléir san Oideachais leis an nGaeilge mar ábhar speisialta sa bhliain 2016 ó Choláiste Mhuire gan Smál, Luimneach. Tá suim thar na bearta ag Eilís i gcúrsaí shealbhú teanga agus tá sí i mbun Máistreacht san Oideachais i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál faoi láthair. Díríonn taighde Eilís ar na modhanna múinte a úsáidtear chun an dara teanga a mhúineadh. D'fhás Eilís suas tuimsithe sa Ghaeilge agus sa chultúr Gaelach, rud a spreag í chun a cultúr féin agus an teanga a chur chun cinn. Is múinteoir bunscoile í Eilís i nGaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh faoi láthair. Is scoil lán Ghaelach í lonnaithe i Luimneach. Mar Fulbright FLTA, múinfidh Eilís ranganna Gaeilge agus tabhairfidh sí faoi ranganna in Ollscoil Montana.
Dúirt sí: "Is cúis áthais ollmhór dom gur bronnadh an Fulbright FLTA orm i mbliana. Is mór an onóir dom é agus táim ag súil go mór leis an mbliain eisceachtúil atá amach romham in Ollscoil Montana. B'é mo uaillmhian pearsanta agus gairmiúil scoláireacht Fulbright a bhaint amach ar feadh na mblianta agus dheineas an cinneadh cur isteach air i mbliana. Táim fíor bhuíoch den deis iontach seo an Ghaeilge a mhúineadh agus an cultúr Ghaelach a scaipeadh sna Stáit Aontaithe fad is a bhfuilim féin tumtha i gcultúr Mheiriceá. Ba é rún mo chroí a bheith i mo Fulbright FLTA agus is fada liom tús a chur leis."
Also awarded a Fulbright FTLA was Kildare’s Eimear Millane. Eimear holds a Bachelor of Education degree from MIC and is currently undertaking a Masters in Literacy and the Curriculum in St. Mary’s University, Belfast. She is a primary school teacher in Bunscoil Bhríde in Co. Kildare, where she oversees the Coiste Gaelach. Eimear has a keen interest in GAA and plays camogie with Naas in Co. Kildare. She is also a traditional musician, playing the concertina and singing in the sean nós style. She has competed successfully at Fleadhanna Ceoil throughout Ireland. She will be a FLTA to the University of Connecticut.
Celebrating the two scholarship awardees was Professor Michael Healy, Vice-President of Research at MIC, who said: “I wish to congratulate Eilís and Eimear on being awarded a Fulbright scholarship and I wish them both every success in their time in Montana and Connecticut. The Fulbright Awards are highly competitive and awarded only to those who have demonstrated excellence in research and study, and is further evidence of the rising profile of research and scholarship at MIC, a development which the College takes much pride in.”
Joe Hackett, Secretary General of the Department of the Foreign Affairs said: “I extend my warmest congratulations to this year’s awardees. Fulbright scholarships provide a transformational experience for individuals and play a crucial role in sustaining the close relationship that Ireland and the United States share. Every year, Fulbright recipients have the exciting opportunity to study, work, and experience life in the U.S., and to represent the best of Ireland. I wish this year’s Awardees every success for their time in the U.S.”
The next round of applications for Fulbright Irish Awards will open on 31st August 2022, interested candidates should visit www.fulbright.ie for more information.
