Chuck Feeney Ireland’s greatest Irishman, gets a proper honor at last -- Shy and secretive billionaire steps forward to accept the plaudits
By: Niall O'Dowd | Published Friday, September 7, 2012, 7:47 AM | Updated Friday, September 7, 2012, 7:47 AM
Chuck Feeney speaks at a book party for his biography, Sept. 24 at the Mutual of America Building in New York City. (Credit: Nuala Purcell)
They came to praise Chuck Feeney yesterday in Dublin at Dublin Castle and it was about time.
Nine universities, a former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, and the current Prime Minister Enda Kenny gathered at the former seat of British power in Ireland to pay their respects.
I was delighted to be there to witness the long overdue tribute to the man who may well be the most important Irish person of the last half century.
He has singlehandedly boosted Irish education standards for generations with his phenomenal gift giving to Irish universities.
But typically, the man himself has resisted all efforts to honor him, preferring the quiet places and lifestyle that have marked his career. Incredibly, yesterday was his first honorary degree.
Yet in recent years he decided that his plan which he entitled "Giving while living" had to receive the oxygen of publicity and he had to step out and become a more public figure.
One of his first events was at our magazine Irish America's Hall of Fame induction luncheon last year. Yesterday was another step in his creation of a public persona.
His giving while living concept is simple. You can't take it with you and there are no pockets in a shroud.
Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and other billionaires have listened and met with Feeney and he has had a remarkable impact on them since he has gone public.
Both men have agreed a similar type strategy when it comes to their billions. The world is a lot better place as a result.
Feeney has given $1.6 billion to university institutions the length and breadth of Ireland, North and South, and allowed them to be competitive with universities everywhere.
Generations of Irish students, trained to the hilt in research methods and new avenues of exploration and confident in their abilities, have gone forth and will continue to do so because of the incredible generosity of Feeney.
Could there be anything more important for this next generation of Irish facing the challenges they have?
Chuck Feeney has " transformed Ireland's higher education and research capacity and had used his wealth in the 'spirit of the true benefactor." Mary Robinson said.
Prime Minister Kenny stated that Feeney was "an extraordinary man who has made an extraordinary contribution to Ireland."
I am happy to have been part of his other great contribution to Ireland, the peace process. He was one of a small group of Irish Americans I put together who convinced Bill Clinton to become involved back when most people thought we were mad to even try.
Feeney played a critical role in that American dimension too .
For that and all the other good things he has done for Ireland, Feeney may well be the most important Irishman of the last half century. No one has left a more significant mark both in today's terms and for future generations.
Which is why it was great to be there yesterday and see at last, a major acknowledgement of that. And Chuck Feeney wore a tie for the occasion, which he is loathe to do --- so it must have been very important to him!
13 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Sep 12, 2012, 09:10 AM EDT
Irish citizenship for all Irish diaspora first, and their kith and kin. Repeople Ireland with the descendants of those of whom Ireland was depeopled in generations past. Charity begins at home.
carrig | Sep 11, 2012, 10:35 AM EDT
Honestly those who are critical of Mr Feeney..would you have done what he chose to do to help the Irish education system..he was not born with a silver spoon but made a choice to make a difference from a very young age. Mr Feeney was born to an Irish Mom who immigrated to US, grew up in New Jersey and entered the service. Can't wait to see who is going to do the same as Mr Feeney did, maybe this time it will be an Irish national..time will tell. What an inspiration Mr Feeney..Thank you
Ms.Gail | Sep 08, 2012, 09:50 AM EDT
Sounds like a thank you is due for his support of Irish institutions of higher education; so, Thank You Mr Feeney.
dan Breen | Sep 07, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT
He could have finish the job collins started !
WoundedKnee | Sep 07, 2012, 02:06 PM EDT
MichaelMcgrath: You say Feeny " supports mass immigration into Ireland and other such Marxist causes". That's wrong. Mass Immigration isn't a Marxist project--you didn't see much Mass Immigration into the Soviet Union or Cuba. Mass Immigration is a capitalist project, and that's why capitalists like Feeny love it, as do the Irish bosses. As regards the nonsense posted by warrenpoint, maybe this dope hasn't noticed, but there are no irish emigrants heading for Pakistan, Poland, Sri Lanka, Bosnia etc. His point is garbage.
misneac | Sep 07, 2012, 12:34 PM EDT
I am sick to the gills reading the rubbish posted by the likes of Cillowen and Warrenpoint .If they resent the generosity and success of Mr.Feeney ,and the wealth he created by his own efforts ,why dont they getoff their collective arses and do some work .We have the usual welfare state types here in Ireland complaining that they havent enough money each week to go over to England to support "their " team Man.U or Liverpool etc. The best supporters in Europe going around chanting "Ole,Ole " while their "partners " are at home collecting the dole ! Some of your contributors have no concept of the contribution from the real people of Ireland ,and I hope that current austerity measures will bring a much needed dose of reality to those contributors who criticise the people who work and make a real contribution to society !
warrenpoint00 | Sep 07, 2012, 12:01 PM EDT
McGrath.What is your capitalist government doing about the mass emigration OUT of Ireland and did you ever stop to think of the strain that these emigrants are putting on some other country,s economy.You are living in a one way street my friend.
cillowen | Sep 07, 2012, 11:58 AM EDT
Being rich has great advantage over the rest of us - the perks that flow from being loaded to the gills - there surely has to be no better high. Having the peons underneath thy foot like the power that queenie has over the erineacts of erin is heady stuff.
MichaelMcGrath | Sep 07, 2012, 10:23 AM EDT
This man Chuck Feeney is largely unknown in Ireland. In fact he was unknown to me until I read about him here some time last year. If it is true that he supports mass immigration into Ireland and other such Marxist causes, as stated here, then, as far as I am concerned, he is not so great at all, nor is he welcome to any position in Ireland.
torbreezy | Sep 07, 2012, 09:53 AM EDT
Is it not amazing what the fruits of "capitalism" have wrought?
RichardP | Sep 07, 2012, 09:47 AM EDT
Mr O'Dowd are you seriously claiming credit for President Clinton's involvement in the peace process?
CitizenWhy | Sep 07, 2012, 09:36 AM EDT
Good to see a billionaire with a sense of the common good and a concern for the future of Ireland. If, as one commentator states, he has helped to fund pro-choice groups aiming for women's reproductive rights in Ireland, then I hope Ireland passes a law similar or the same as the UK's. The UK allows abortion up to 26 weeks, about the time brain waves appear, brain waves being accepted as the transition of the fetus from biological life to human life. Abortion after 26 weeks is allowed to save the woman's life or prevent serious harm to her.
WoundedKnee | Sep 07, 2012, 08:13 AM EDT
What? No mention of the money Feeney has pumped into Ireland to fund pro-abortion pressure groups? Or his generous funding to organizations lobbying for even more Mass Immigration into Ireland? (Of course no funds from Feeney for Irish people who work for the welfare of Irish emigrants overseas). And what about the "brave" way Feeney pulled out his money from an investigative project a few years back, when the Dublin government told him that they didn't like their affairs being scrutinized? Feeney limped away without a whimper.