When Erin Wakes

The Percy French Scholarship Fund

The Percy French Scholarship was conceived as far back as 1957 not far from the writer's own native parish of Cloonyquinn. Following the successes of the two major summer festivals of ’57 and ’58 the idea was first mooted by the organisers and founding members of the first Percy French Society in Ireland which included stalwarts such as Robbie Kilgallon (chairman), John Finnerty (secretary), Michael Toolan, James Kelly (treasurer), Canon Wynne Slack, Jim Dalton, Major Harry French.

Following the phenomenal success of these festivals, the then founders of the Percy French Society were anxious that the momentum be maintained and decided to commemorate the poets memory in some more permanent form. Having discussed a number of proposals they agreed in principle to the establishment of a Percy French Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The money raised at the festivals was wisely invested in Government Exchequer stocks (Brokered by local solictor and Elphin man, Sean Scott) and a considerable fund had accumulated when the first award was finally made in 1967 (see photo). The first and earliest Scholarship committee, often convened meetings that lasted late into the night in the homes of members which included John Finnerty (secretary), Robbie Kilgannon, James Kelly (treasurer) Jim Dalton, Mickey Croghan, Fr. James Tiernan CC (chairman), and Michael Flanagan.

The amount decided for the winning student was £300 spread over five years. This may seem a modest sum by today’s standards but yet fairly substantial and very welcome in a 1960s Ireland. The continued success of the Scholarship today is largely due to the additional funding provided by Killina Parish which makes an annual contribution to the fund. And so 52 years after its original conception and long after many of its founding members have passed away, the Scholarship is still alive and well with this year's recipient Aine Donoghue having received her award at the 2009 Summer School.