The Finbarr Cole Memorial Award

A special award was presented on Friday at the Cork College of FET, Tramore Road Campus graduation ceremony to a Cultural & Heritage Studies graduate Kian Courtney as he progresses on his educational journey in UCC.

This annual memorial award has been kindly gifted by Eileen Cole in memory of her late husband Finbarr. Finbarr on early retirement studied Cultural & Heritage Studies in Cork College of FET, Tramore Road Campus (former CSN) and excelled in his time in the Campus. In turn, he continued to UCC where he graduated with a BA Degree in archaeology and folklore. He never forgot his links to the Tramore Road Campus and became the President of the Cultural & Heritage Studies Alumni. He worked for many years on Spike Island and then at the Lusitania Museum and Old Head Signal Tower in Kinsale. His passing was deeply felt by all who knew him.

Finbarr was an advocate of learning and education and was known for the way he mentored and helped his fellow students when studying. This financial award is dedicated to his memory and his love of learning and is designed to support students embarking on a similar journey to the one he took, some years ago. The Cultural & Heritage Studies Course and indeed all the courses on the Tramore Road Campus have offered the ideal opportunity for students of all ages to follow their dreams and realise their ambitions. The experience and ethos of this educational campus is crystalised in this extraordinary award that brings two students, who never knew each other, Finbarr and Kian firmly together in the shared spirit of education and opportunity.

Kian Courtney, recipient of the Finbarr Cole Memorial Award 2023