Write a commentUS Ambassador to Ireland Mr Dan Rooney and Mrs Patricia Rooney presented the prestigious Rooney Fellowship Prize for 2009-10 to Lisa Meegan a full-time Higher National Diploma in Business Studies student at the Southern Regional College, Newry Campus.
This is the 18th year of this prestigious Scholarship which will enable Lisa to spend the next year studying and undertaking work placements in Pittsburgh USA.
The announcement was made at the annual Rooney Fellowship Award dinner held recently in the Graduate Restaurant at the College’s East Campus. A splendid meal was served from an award winning menu created by SRC students for the recent International Food Exhibition (IFEX) competition.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive of the Southern 
Regional College welcomed Ambassador and Mrs Rooney and thanked them for taking time from their busy schedule to come to the College to present the Annual Rooney Fellowship Award. He paid tribute to Dan and Patricia Rooney for making the Rooney Fellowship possible and assured them that the Southern Regional was deeply committed to carrying on and developing this work. Mr Doran paid a special tribute to the work of the Ireland Institute and welcomed Executive Director of the Ireland Institute Teresa Stayduhar who travelled from Pittsburgh to the dinner.
Martin McGrath, the outgoing Rooney Fellow, gave a brief overview of his time in Pittsburgh describing his trip as a once in a lifetime experience and thanked all invol ved in establishing the internship. In his address Ambassador Rooney paid tribute to the outgoing fellow and gave a warm welcome and congratulated the 2010 Rooney Fellow, Lisa Meegan. Ambassador Rooney expressed his pride in all the past Rooney Fellows who he said were tremendous ambassadors for Newry City. He also paid tribute to the Rooney Alumni Group for their work in relation to the Sister Michele O’Leary Bursary in recognition of her unequivocal support of the Rooney Fellowship internship and help and guidance provided to the Fellows during their time in Pittsburgh. The Sr Michele O’Leary Bursary winner for 2010 was announced by Brian Larkin, Chair of the Rooney Alumni Group. The recipient was Eamon Keenan a HND Business Studies student at the College and the presentation was made by Aine Thompson, Vice Chair of Rooney Alumni Group. Feargal McCormack reflected on the establishment of the Newry Pittsburgh Partnership and acknowledged the contribution of key individuals such as Dan Rooney, Seamus Mallon, Tony O’Reilly, Jack O’Hare, Dr Raymond Mullan and Sister Michele O’Leary who he thanked for their vision in establishing and sustaining the Rooney Fellowship over the past 18 years.
Mayor John Feehan spoke of Newry City’s long and proud association with the Rooney Family and thanked the Ambassador and Mrs Rooney, on behalf of Newry and Mourne District Council, for their continued support of initiatives in the greater Newry area. Lisa will leave in August 2009 to commence her internship at the University of Pittsburgh and work placements with Heinz Corporation and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
