Thurles student awarded the Dr Aisling Butler Memorial Bursary

Congratulations to Eva McBrearty, of the Ursuline class of 2022, this year’s recipient of the Dr Aisling Butler Memorial Bursary.

On Wednesday, November 30, Eva received her certificate and bursary from Dr Aisling’s parents, Evelyn and John Butler, who established the award ten years ago in their daughter’s memory.

She was one of three Irish friends who died in the Air France disaster in June 2009.

As part of the ceremony, the school had compiled a video with messages of thanks for Dr Aisling’s parents from those who had been awarded the bursary in the ten years since its inauguration.

The qualified doctors working in an array of medical fields and those who are still studying medicine and pharmacy all said they felt privileged to be pursuing the same career as Aisling Butler. They all spoke about how they tried to honour the memory of Dr Aisling Butler in their work.

Eva, who was accompanied by her parents, Dr John McBrearty and Dr Elaine Joyce and her sister Alison, thanked the Butlers for their generosity and support.

She recalled being a First Year student attending the bursary ceremony in the Sr Ursula Memorial Hall and how, on that day, she was inspired to become a doctor just like Aisling.

John and Evelyn thanked the school for the lovely presentation, and they are so very glad that Aisling’s memory continues to live on in the lives and work of so many young women today.

Full Caption: The 2022 Dr Aisling Butler Memorial Bursary was awarded to Ursuline Eva McBrearty. Eva is pictured here being presented with her certificate of achievement by Dr Aisling’s mother Evelyn. Pictured (L-R) Dr John McBrearty, Evelyn Butler, Eva McBrearty, Alison McBrearty, Dr Elaine Joyce and John Butler

Contributed to School Days in the Tipperary Star.