A CONFLICT resolution scholarship scheme funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs is to be renamed in honour of Andrew Grene, the Irish UN worker who died in the Haiti earthquake last month.
Mr Grene (44), a citizen of both Ireland and the US, was special assistant to the head of the UN mission in Haiti. Born in Chicago, Mr Grene spent his childhood summers on a farm near Belturbet in Cavan, and later studied at Trinity College, Dublin.
He is survived by his wife Jennifer, who is from Belfast, and their three children Patrick (20), Alex (19) and Rosamund (14).
The Department of Foreign Affairs supports conflict resolution work in a number of post-conflict societies, including Timor-Leste where Mr Grene had previously worked. The departments conflict resolution unit provides funding for a PhD scholarship scheme, administered by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Up to € 25,000 is available to each applicant to the scheme, which was established in 2008.
Announcing the decision to rename the scholarship after Mr Grene, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said it would serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by development workers in their efforts to help others. “Andrew Grene was a true humanitarian, who lived his life helping people in the worlds poorest countries to emerge from conflict . . . It is fitting that we dedicate an academic scholarship to his memory.
Applications for the 2010 scholarship scheme are currently being processed.
- Musicians and singers will perform for Haiti tomorrow in Dublin’s Pro Cathedral. Money raised will help fund medical supplies for nurses working with the Camillian Order in Haiti – among them Irish nurse, Anita Ennis. Music begins at 3.30pm and will be lead by Fr Marino Nguekam from Cameroon.
He featured recently on Joe Duffy's Christmas Showand again on Spirit Level, the RTÉ Sunday evening programme. Also taking part will be Romanian opera singer Michaela Loredana-Chirvase along with Mary Flynn from the Dublin Diocesan Music Group.