Statement on the passing of Chuck Feeney

10.10.2023

The National University of Ireland is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Chuck Feeney, a philanthropist who transformed the landscape of Irish higher education. Eleven years ago, all the universities on the island of Ireland conferred Feeney with an honorary degree to recognise the scale of his contribution to higher education in Ireland.

The legacy of Chuck Feeney’s contribution is felt on campuses throughout Ireland both from his support of critical infrastructure projects and the support provided to establishing the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions. This programme supported major research initiatives in Irish institutions for over 20 years. Throughout the course of his life, Feeney gave away more than $8 billion, $1 billion of which went to the Irish education sector. In 2020, his charitable foundation Atlantic Philanthropies closed, having given away all of Feeney’s money and therefore achieving its ultimate goal.

Dr Maurice Manning, Chancellor of NUI, stated “Chuck Feeney’s legacy can be seen across every university campus in Ireland. His generosity, vision and clarity has helped bring the Irish higher education sector to where it is today, and every graduate on this island has benefited from his contribution.”

 

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