SETU students win major bursaries for 2025 – News

Four students in SETU (South East Technological University) have been announced as winners of the university’s Una McDermott Travel Bursary for 2025.

The winners are all students of the SETU BSc in Horticulture, at Teagasc’s College of Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. 

Chélirs Brecq, Brian Feeney, Shane Fennelly and Michael Leahy were placed first, second, third and fourth, respectively.

Kindly sponsored by the family of the late Una McDermott – horticulture lecturer in SETU and Teagasc – the bursary supports travel for horticulture-related learning outside Ireland. Each year, the competitive bursary helps to fund students’ travel, sustenance, accommodation and non-SETU course fees so that they can undertake internships, work placements, and educational experiences around the world.

This summer, current second-year student, Chélirs Brecq from Birr in Co Offaly, will take up an internship at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids Township, Michigan, USA, for eight weeks. The garden is regarded as one of the world’s finest horticultural display gardens and sculpture parks.

Commenting on his award, Chélirs said: “Winning the Una McDermott Travel Bursary is something I had never thought I would do when I started my journey in horticulture. It will now allow me to accomplish one of my dreams – to work abroad as an intern in the horticultural sector.”

“I am absolutely delighted, and I am really looking forward to starting my travels and my internship, it’ll be the event of a lifetime,” he said, before adding: “A big thanks to the Una McDermott Bursary and the wonderful people that are there to help students avail of this fantastic opportunity.” 

Brian Feeney from Ballymahon, Co Longford, is a final-year student of the SETU Level 7 Horticulture degree, and he will use his award to fund an internship with Catherine Fitzgerald Landscape Design, a London-based firm whose projects focus on the restoration and conservation of historic gardens.

He also expressed delight at receiving the award: “I am incredibly grateful to the family of Una McDermott and the interview board for awarding me this bursary. Una’s passion for horticulture is truly inspiring, and it is an honour to be selected for a bursary that carries forward her legacy.”

In third place, third-year student Shane Fennelly, from Portlaoise, Co Laois, won funding to spend the summer working in Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France. Shane is particularly excited to deepen his horticultural skills by combining hands-on experience with artistic garden design, inspired by Monet’s famous use of colour, light, and texture. Exposure to French gardening practices and insights from local gardeners will broaden his technical knowledge and creative approach to planting.

Dubliner Michael Leahy, a final-year student, was awarded funding to undertake an intensive permaculture course at Charles Dowding’s Homeacres garden in Somerset, UK. 

With the bursary in its fifth year, Dr Cara Daly, Programme Director of the BSc in Horticulture degrees, said: “The bursary provides foreign travel opportunities for students that might not be possible without the fund. Year after year, the winning students share their travel journeys, recounting tales not just of learning, but of personal growth, fun and exploration, of making new friends, and developing a global outlook for their future.”

“The knowledge and inspiration these students bring back to their classmates helps raise the standard and spirit of the whole programme, ensuring that Una’s legacy continues to uplift future generations,” said Ms Daly.

“The continued generosity of the McDermott family has created life-changing opportunities for students – fostering ambition, growth, and international experience in Una’s memory,” she added.

Una McDermott’s sister, Patricia Billett, reflected on previous winners of the travel bursary and said: “It was great to see past winners achieve so much and it is hoped that sharing their learning upon returning to class spurs the present students to keep going – even if they hit adversity or a setback along their journey.”

“Una believed in the ‘triers’, the student who worked to the best of their abilities and she delighted in their achievements, whatever form that took for them,” she said.

Una’s other sister, Eva Creely, added: “It’s great to see these students taking up the personal challenge of going outside their comfort zone and gearing up for a learning experience beyond the classroom. Our sister Una would be proud of them.”

Professor Peter McLoughlin, Head (Waterford) Faculty of Science and Computing, expressed heartfelt thanks to the McDermott family, whose continued support of the travel bursary honours Una’s memory in the most meaningful way.

“The opportunities created by their generosity continue to empower students to broaden their horizons, grow professionally and personally, and return with knowledge and experiences that enrich the wider horticultural community,” he said.

“The legacy of Una McDermott lives on through every student who takes that brave step beyond Ireland’s shores in pursuit of learning,” Prof. McLoughlin added.

Applications for the 2026 Una McDermott Travel Bursary will open in December 2025 and SETU’s horticulture programmes are now accepting applications via www.cao.ie. For information on undergraduate and postgraduate horticulture options, including part-time and distance learning visit www.setu.ie