Stories in Giving
The Joseph and Peter Dooley Scholarship Fund
We are establishing the Joseph and Peter Dooley Scholarship Fund, in memory of our father Peter and our brother Joseph, who both passed away in 2005.
Our father Peter always emphasised to us the power and benefits of a good education. After his mother's death in his early teens, he was forced to leave school and was thus denied the opportunity of a third level education. He always wanted his children to have that opportunity. He told us that when he worked in Dublin for some years when he was younger, he often cycled past Trinity and wondered what it would be like to be a student there. He was very proud that we received a Trinity education.
Our brother Joseph was a constant presence and positive influence throughout our lives, particularly during our time at Trinity. He ran his own printing business in Dublin for many years, not far from Trinity, and was always there to support us during our student life - from being the practical solution and saving grace when the ATM failed to deliver any more notes to being the listening ear for any problems that arose as we adjusted to college life.
We feel privileged to have had the experience of attending Trinity and have benefited enormously from gaining our third level education there. Our experiences and the relationships we formed there will stay with us throughout our lives. We also feel an obligation to give back to the college. In setting up this fund, to be administered through the Trinity Access Programmes, we hope that other students will reap the same benefits as we have.
Grainne, Catherine, Christina, Geraldine and Rosemary Dooley.
Newton's In Principia Now Resides in Trinity College Dublin
The owner, Bishop Hamilton, whose name is inside the cover at the front of the book, was the grandfather of Isabella Hamilton who married John Synge of Glanmore Castle, Ashford, Co.Wicklow, sometime around the beginning of the nineteenth century. (Bishop Hamilton was connected to Trinity and his portrait hangs just outside where the faculty takes coffee). Isabella and John had several children including John Hatch Synge who was the father of 1) John Millington Synge, the playwright, 2) my grandfather Edward, second son and a Trinity graduate, and the oldest, Robert, who purchased Glanmore about 1920 with the fortune he had made in Argentina. Robert's daughter, Kathleen, inherited but never lived in Glanmore and when she died in the 1950s it was sold. The contents of the library and some of the furniture were distributed around the family and in that distribution it was determined that my father, John Lighton Synge, by then a professor of mathematical physics at D.I.A.S., should receive the scientific books. As far as I know, my father put them all on his bookshelves and forgot about them.
In 1992 he moved into a nursing home. He told me to take any of the books that I wanted. He said that they were not valuable except for a first edition of J.M.Synge's collected works.
I had two days to pick out what I wanted and ship them to New York. Under the eager eyes of the shippers, I decided to take all the leather bound books, some classical mathematics books and the J.M.Synge books. At home in New York I had a bookcase built, put the books away and thought I would look at them more closely some day.
That day came about three years ago. Attending a lecture mostly about Newton at New York University, I wondered if among those books I had put away there might be something by Newton. So I finally looked at them and discovered that I had what was probably a first edition.
My husband and I decided it was too valuable to keep, too difficult to sell and that we would like to give it away. We decided to give it to the Irish American Fund which was a donor to Trinity. And that is how Trinity acquired a first edition of Newton.
I should add that my father met my mother, Elizabeth Allen, at Trinity. She dropped out to marry him. She often talked of the good time she had as a student. The connection to T.C.D. is also an old one as many of the earlier clerical Synge’s studied at Trinity.
I also was aware that my father was instrumental in helping Trinity acquire the J.M.Synge papers and I believe he would be glad to know that Trinity College Library now has a first edition of Newton's Principia.
Cathleen Synge Morawetz
The first edition of Newton’s In Principia was kindly donated to Trinity College Dublin by Cathleen Synge Morawetz in April 2008.
Supporting Education in Science & Technology
When Wyeth announced its decision to construct what is the largest biomanufacturing plant in the world, it sent a very positive message out to the world that Ireland is a top player on the pharmaceutical map and is ready and willing to embrace the new wave of innovation.
The type of innovation which comes from collaboration between government, academia and businesses is essential to ensure Ireland’s future as a centre of scientific excellence in future.
Wyeth is delighted to be supporting Science Gallery.
Matt Corcoran, MD, Wyeth Biotech
The Pigott Lectureship in American History
Strengthening the cultural and business links between Ireland and America depends on a greater understanding of each country’s history and their interdependence. I am grateful that Trinity - Ireland's premier university - supported the formation of the American History Professorship and am delighted to contribute to the important position.
It is encouraging to witness the growth and recognition of the importance of philanthropy within the educational foundation of Irish education, similar to the charitable framework buttressing the great universities in America. Even though I earned my degrees from Stanford University, I am pleased to assist Trinity in its growth, recognizing my Irish roots and the changing role of government in funding education throughout Ireland. I hope that my support for Trinity will encourage Trinity's alumni to increase their role in supporting a great institution of which we are all proud.
Dr Mark Pigott, Chairman and CEO of PACCAR
The Marjorie and Norah Fenton Scholarship
In 2006, through the Fair Wind Foundation, Mr and Mrs Michael Jackson established the Marjorie and Norah Fenton Scholarship. It is in memory of Mr. Jackson’s mother Marjorie and his aunt Norah, a graduate of Trinity’s medical school. Norah Edith Fenton graduated with B.A. in 1923 and M.B., BCh., B.A.O. in 1927.
Pauline Byakika and Mohammed Lamorde were awarded the Marjorie and Norah Fenton Scholarship, which enables them to do a Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology, in 2007. They are conducting their research in Uganda under the supervision of Dr Ceppie Merry, a Trinity academic.
In the photo: Dr Mohammed Lamorde, Dr Ceppie Merry and Dr Pauline Byakika.
Supporting Cancer Research
When Pauline Keegan lost her husband of 30 years Jack Keegan to lung cancer, she decided to do something meaningful. Finding cure for the disease, she thought, would benefit everyone. Pauline’s decision to contribute to Trinity’s lung cancer research motivated her to participate in a marathon and other activities. Within a year Paula raised over €3,000 for Trinity cancer research.