Today, at the University of Limerick, a new award, the Fiachra Treacy ORIX Aviation Award was launched in memory of Fiachra Treacy, who had been an integral part of the ORIX Aviation team for over three years, until he died tragically in January 2020. Fiachra graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from UL in 2000 and pursued his passion for aviation through a successful career, working with various leading aviation companies in Seattle, Bristol and Dublin, prior to joining ORIX Aviation.
Fiachra was a keen aerospace enthusiast and an active member of several clubs and societies during his undergraduate years. He always spoke fondly of his time at the university, during which he made many life-long friendships and also met his wife Cróine, herself a UL Alumna. Speaking about the scholarship, Cróine Treacy said: “UL holds many happy memories for Fiachra, I, his many friends and especially the Aero Eng class of 2000. On behalf of Fiachra’s family, his friends and our three girls I would like to thank ORIX Aviation for their generosity. It means a great deal to us that Fiachra’s love for Aeronautical Engineering will continue in the next generation of UL Engineers”.
The new award at the University of Limerick, which is being gifted through the University of Limerick Foundation, will award two final-year Bachelor or Masters of Aeronautical Engineering students with a bursary of €2,500 to assist with their studies at the university. The first two successful recipients will receive their awards in 2021.
Speaking about the newly launched award, Mike MacConnie, Chief Operations Officer at ORIX Aviation said: “Fiachra was an invaluable colleague within the ORIX Aviation team in Dublin. We support this award to honour the memory of our dear friend and colleague.”
The University of Limerick is pleased that ORIX Aviation has decided to pay tribute to Fiachra’s memory in this way, so that his spirit, passion and dedication to aviation will continue through current and future students who receive this award.
Speaking about the Award, Sarah Hartnett, Director of Development at the UL Foundation said: “We at the University and Foundation are very touched and honoured that ORIX Aviation have chosen to remember Fiachra in this way. It’s very fitting that his spirit will continue through students who receive this award based on a shared passion for aviation”.
