'I just want to give the students a helping hand into their new world'

An Arranmore native living in the United States has launched a new scholarship in conjunction with her old school as a mark of gratitude for the time she spent there and the progress that has been made since.

Caroleann Gallagher is originally from Aphort and was one of the first group of pupils to attend Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada in 1990. Currently based in Chicago, Caroleann, a partner at Coogan Gallagher PC, has not forgotten her roots.

The recently-launched Coogan Gallagher Scholarship will be open every year to all Leaving Certificate Students enrolled at the Gairmscoil, which will reward the winner with €3,000 to assist them in their next step at college in education, apprenticeship or further training.

This year’s award winner will be announced on the final day of term, June 2, before the Leaving Certificate begins on June 7. Caroleann, who makes the trip home every year, hopes to be back to present the first award in person this summer.

The scholarship competition is open to all Leaving Certificate pupils at the school by means of anonymous application, reference and essay - not based on results - and will be solely judged by Caroleann and her partner in law in Chicago, Jim Coogan.

“We’re very grateful and delighted to have established the link with Caroleann, who is a former student, and someone who has done so well for herself,” Mary Doherty, the Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada principal following the launch of the scholarship, told DonegalLive. “The openness means it's a great opportunity for all of our students and can be a great motivational factor as they begin their next chapter.”

Caroleann and her daughters Ava and Ana

Caroleann is the daughter of Laurence Lenty and Kathleen Nancy and the younger sister of Bryan, Michael and Laurence. Growing up, the three boys in the house boarded at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny, as there was no secondary school on Arranmore at the time.

“Arranmore and its people had been battling with the government for more than 20 years to get a secondary school on the island,” Caroleann told DonegalLive from Chicago. “But their requests fell on deaf ears and the government felt Arranmore wasn’t big enough for a secondary school and wouldn’t agree to it for many years.

“The kids having to leave the island was difficult and I remember how sad I was on a Sunday when my brothers would leave to go to Letterkenny again. When it came to my time to go to secondary school, my parents had made plans for me to move to the Tech in Killybegs and live there with my uncle.

Caroleann’s father Laurence, like so many from Arranmore, worked as a tunneller for Josie Gallagher out of London and went underground in places like Germany, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and the Channel.

“It was a very difficult time for my mother, who was going to be alone,” Caroleann added. “If Arranmore people are anything, they are persistent! Just before I was supposed to start in Killybegs in the summer of 1990, we got the word we would finally get our school on Arranmore. The whole island was overjoyed.”

That September, Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada opened its doors for the first time with Pauline Comack as principal. Mary and Danny Doherty, Frank Gallagher and Sally McCafferty were among the teaching staff, with 24 new students saved from the ferry crossings and need to find dorms.

Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada students with Donegal captain Anthony Molloy and full-forward Tony Boyle on their visit with Sam Maguire following their All-Ireland success in 1992. Caroleann Gallagher is right of centre

Although she didn’t have any in the family, from her early teens Caroleann dreamt of becoming a lawyer and in the era before email and search engines, sent handwritten letters to the various third-level colleges and universities to see what their law courses entailed.

After her Leaving Certificate in 1995, Caroleann accepted a place in University College Galway for a three-year BA in Legal Studies and Political Science and then the two-year LLB. She continued with her four-year apprenticeship with the Law Society of Ireland in Dublin, from 2000 until 2004, with her master solicitor firm Mullaneys in Sligo. Nine years after leaving Arrmore she was sworn in as a solicitor by the Law Society of Ireland.

Caroleann, who also worked with Callan Tansey at Boyle, Co Roscommon, showed an interest in personal injury law and medical malpractice.

In the summer of 1998, Caroleann had worked on a J1 in Chicago as a barmaid and witness at Ridgemoor Country Club and returned the year afterwards having secured employment in a law firm, staying in Roscoe with Arranmore natives Anne and Packie, with her friends. One of those, Andrena Rodgers, eventually decided to make the move to the Windy City permanently.

Caroleann, whilst visiting Andrena in late 2007, met Pat Hough from Newcastle West in Limerick in a “small hole-in-the-wall bar on the northwest side of Chicago” and when she returned to Ireland they continued their relationship over Skype. They are now husband and wife, with two young daughters, Ava (10) and Ana (8).

Caroleann with her husband Pat and daughters Ava and Ana

“I took a chance and moved to Chicago for what I thought would be three months in 2008,” Caroleann added. “Now it’s been 15 years and my life is based here. While I miss Arranmore every day, Chicago has become my home. I became qualified in the States and did the Bar Exam to be admitted here in Illinois. I joined my current firm in 2017, became a partnership in 2018 and last summer changed the sign to Coogan Gallagher.

“I’ve kept a close eye in Ireland and on Arranmore and my old school. I’ve seen how well it has done and have seen so many past students from the school. They, to me, are wonderful, well-rounded people and that’s in no small part to the school. It’s a phenomenal school. It gives kinds the best start in their adult lives.

“So now I want to give something back and show my appreciation, and Arranmore’s as a whole, so with the help of my partner here in Chicago, Jim, and the principal at home, Mary Doherty, we set up the Coogan Gallagher Scholarship. I just want to give the students a helping hand into their new world and am so excited its come to pass.”