On Wednesday December 7th Mr. David Funcheon and Mr. Brendan Mc Nally launched the Acorn Life Business Scholarships for local post primary schools for 2023- 2024 in Castleblayney College and Our Lady’s Secondary School. This initiative will offer one student in each of the two schools a €1,000 scholarship for studying a business and finance related course at a recognised third level institution.
Acorn Life DAC opened their north east regional office in Castleblayney in February 2022 and this office is managed by Castleblayney man David Funcheon. The office has 14 financial advisors working across 5 counties in the north east of Ireland and is currently undergoing huge expansion. Acorn Life DAC specialise in Life pensions and investments, it is part of the Acorn Group of companies that include Acorn Mortgages and Acorn Insurance. David is extremely passionate about education and the continuous development of students through learning and knowledge development. The company is delighted to partner with the 2 second level schools in the town to help support a student from each school with financial support in the coming academic year of 2023- 2024 to the value of €1000. Speaking at the launch of the scholarship Mr. David Funcheon stated ‘in Acorn life we believe everybody should be given every opportunity to reach their full potential, it is backed by our mission statement “empowering ordinary people achieve extraordinary results”.
It is hoped that this scholarship award will help, enable, and benefit a student of each second level school in Castleblayney to become the best version of themselves through the study and completion of a Business/Finance course at third level’. Speaking at the launch in Castleblayney College on Wednesday December 7th , school principal, Dr Niall McVeigh, paid tribute to the tremendous vision of Mr David Funcheon & Mr Brendan McNally to provide support to the next generation within our local community in a very tangible way at a time of acute financial stress for many families across our school communities, 'I express our sincere appreciation to David and Brendan of Acorn Life, Castleblayney, for their invaluable support to our students in both post primary schools in the local community. The financial challenges of progressing to third level education is often an impediment for some students to progress. This support offers our students hope to overcome such barriers enabling them to pursue their ambitions in life. For that we are very grateful.'
Mr. Kelly Principal of Our Lady’s Secondary School echoed the sentiments of Dr. Mc Veigh and thanked David and Brendan from Acorn Life ‘for their extraordinary generosity to the students in both schools. This is a wonderful example of a local business giving back to the students in our school communities and a fantastic opportunity for the students to pursue a business and finance course with such a high level of support from Acorn Life. We look forward to working with the management of Castleblayney College and Acorn Life to develop this scholarship in the coming years and to give as many students from both schools the opportunity to benefit from such wonderful support.’
Photo 1: Ms. Irwin ( teacher Our Lady’s Secondary School), Calum Madden, Brendan Mc Nally (Acorn Life), Tori Mc Geough, David Funcheon (Acorn Life), Charlie Mc Nally, Siobhan Smyth, Eddie Kelly (Principal Our Lady’s Secondary School)
Photo 2: Ms. Frances King (Deputy Principal Castleblayney College) Kevin Flanagan, Brendan Mc Nally (Acorn Life), David Funcheon (Acorn Life) Roisin Mc Eneaney, Ms. Tanya Mc Grath teacher Castleblayney College), Dr. Niall Mv Veigh (Principal Castleblayney College)
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