Offaly horticulture student wins SETU Una McDermott Travel Bursary

A BIRR student is one of four winners of the South East Technology University (SETU) Una McDermott Travel Bursary for 2025, which were announced last week.

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 have taken first, second, third and fourth place, 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.

Chélirs says: “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. A big thanks to the Una McDermott Bursary and the wonderful people that are there to help students avail of this fantastic opportunity.”

With the bursary in its fifth year, Dr Cara Daly, Programme Director of the BSc in Horticulture degrees, explained: “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. The continued generosity of the McDermott family has created life-changing opportunities for students—fostering ambition, growth, and international experience in Una’s memory. Each student’s journey is a testament to her enduring influence on horticultural education.”

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Patricia Billett, sister of the late Una McDermott, reflected on previous winners of the travel bursary: “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.”

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. 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 said.

Applications for the 2026 Una McDermott Travel Bursary will open in December 2025. 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 please visit www.setu.ie .

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