Dunderry sisters establish scholarship in memory of much-loved brother

A €25,000 scholarship has been established at Maynooth University in memory of a Dunderry man, with his two sisters hoping to honour his love of learning while helping other students pursue their ambitions.

Andrea James and her sister Denise Record have personally committed the funding to establish the Ivan Mulligan Memorial Scholarship, which will provide a €5,000 award to one student each year for five years.

Applications opened on Wednesday, 11th November, Ivan’s birthday, giving the family a new and positive focus for a date that has been difficult since his death in tragic circumstances in 2023, aged 45.

“I think he would be really happy to be supporting somebody else on their journey,” Andrea said.

Ivan had a lifelong passion for learning and studied at University College Dublin and Maynooth University, where he had a particularly happy time.

He completed a law degree and a Master of Laws, while his thesis on neuroscience and criminal law was published in the Irish Criminal Law Journal. He also studied psychology at university for two years and had a keen interest in music.

His education began at Boyerstown NS before he went to St Finian’s College in Mullingar as a boarder. He later studied at universities in London, Dublin and Maynooth.

He spoke fluent Irish and French and very good German, and Andrea said his curiosity and appetite for knowledge were constant throughout his life.

“He was interested in everything. He was always reading, and always learning.”

That love of learning was something the siblings shared. When Andrea decided to improve her own Irish and enrolled in a university course in 2022, Ivan became her practice partner every week.

He spoke fluent Irish and was happy to help his sister with her studies, giving them another reason to spend time together and talk.

His interest in education also extended beyond his own studies. Ivan qualified as a teacher of English as a foreign language and worked in the area for several years, something Andrea said he loved.

The sisters wanted the scholarship to reflect Ivan’s varied interests, so it is open to students studying law, education or music.

Applicants must also be registered with the Maynooth Access Programme (MAP), which supports students from under-represented backgrounds, including mature students, students with disabilities and those entering university through further education routes.

Andrea said the scholarship was a way of creating something substantial in her brother’s name and ensuring he was remembered for the many positive things about his life.

“I like to have his name out in the world as much as possible,” she said.

Ivan experienced serious mental health challenges during his life, but Andrea is keen that these should not define how he is remembered. She wants his name associated with the many things that made him such a special person to those who knew and loved him.

Ivan was just two years older than Andrea, and the pair were close from childhood with Andrea explaining that he never called her by her given name.

“Ivan always called me Minnie and never Andrea. Even when I was a grown adult and a law firm partner in my 40s, I was still Minnie to him,” she said.

“He was a protective and kind older brother and always got a kick from, and said he was proud of, anything I achieved.”

Her earliest memory of Ivan captures that protective bond. She remembers him coming in to ask their mother if she could go outside to play, only to be told she was too small.

“He came in again, literally five minutes later, and asked if I was big enough,” she recalled.

Like many siblings, they had their squabbles growing up, but became particularly close as teenagers and remained so throughout adulthood.

They went to gigs together, including seeing The Stunning, Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters and when Andrea moved to Liverpool for university, Ivan travelled up from London to spend her first weekend with her and make sure she had settled in.

One of her happiest memories is of a family party on New Year’s Eve 1999, when Ivan was the first person on the dancefloor, dancing away by himself as the family welcomed the new millennium.

“He was very funny. He was full of joy at that time,” she said.

His intelligence was also remembered by people in their home community. Andrea recalled how neighbours doing crossword puzzles told her they would keep difficult words aside, knowing that Ivan would probably have the answer when he called in.

She also spoke of his kindness towards his nieces and nephews and his affection for animals.

Denise also has many happy memories of the close bond shared by the three siblings, whom Ivan affectionately called ‘The Three Musketeers’.

“Ivan, Andrea and I spent a huge amount of time together, particularly during their early years. Ivan always referred to us as ‘The Three Musketeers’. We had so many lovely, happy times in each other’s company,” she said.

“He was a loving and kind younger brother, always good humoured and full of fun. He doted on my children and had a very close friendship with my husband, Mark.”

Denise and her husband live in Dubai, and she recalled how much they enjoyed Ivan’s visits there, as well as their time together when they returned to Ireland.

“We loved when he visited us in Dubai where we live and we always had lovely times with him during our visits to Ireland. He is very deeply missed every day,” she said.

“Being able to honour his memory in a way that would mean so much to him is a great comfort.”

Andrea has found another special way to keep her brother’s memory alive through her own daughter. After 16 years of marriage, she and her husband welcomed their little girl, Autumn.

Andrea said she and her husband firmly believe Ivan sent their daughter to them.

“We absolutely believe Ivan sent her from heaven,” she said.

They gave Autumn the middle name Ivan, so her full name is Autumn Mary Ivan.

There are photographs of Ivan around their home and Andrea and her husband talk about him with their daughter all the time. The family also visits an oak tree and memorial plaque dedicated to him in a nearby memorial wood, within walking distance of their home, several times a week.

Andrea who now lives in the UK with her family said she loves that Ivan’s name now carries on through her daughter, and that Autumn is growing up knowing about her uncle.

The scholarship is another way of keeping his name alive, while helping someone else to benefit from the opportunities that education can bring.

The sisters hope the scholarship will eventually become a lasting tribute. The initial commitment will support five students over five years, with the first applications opening on Ivan’s birthday.

The closing date for applications is 29th November.