GC50 Highlights: Celebrating 1970s Alumni

Griffith College, currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, has been a cornerstone of academic excellence in Ireland. 

From its humble beginnings as Business and Accounting Training (BAT) in Milltown Park, the college has produced a myriad of successful professionals who have made significant contributions across various industries. Here, we highlight some of our distinguished alumni and their remarkable achievements over the decades.

Celebrating Griffith's 1970s Pioneers of Excellence  

1975: Eoin McBennett 

3rd Place in Ireland, ACA Foundation Examination

Eoin McBennett, who retired as a Chief Financial Officer, recalls his formative years with great fondness. "I’ll always thank Diarmuid for what he did for us young accountants in the 70s. It’s great to see Griffith College grow from its beginning as BAT in Milltown Park."

1976: Seamus Buckley

3rd Place in Ireland, ACA Final Examination

Seamus Buckley, a partner and chairman of BKK, an accountancy-based practice he established in 1977, credits his success to the inspirational guidance he received. "Diarmuid was the driving force and absolutely inspirational in the results achieved back then."

1976: Aidan Feighery

2nd Place in Ireland, ACA Foundation Examination 2

Aidan Feighery's career spanned roles from audit and taxation at PWC to finance director at SIAC Construction Pacemetrics Ltd., and later as principal consultant at Elegant Energy Ltd. before retiring.

1976: Ciaran Spillane

3rd Place in Ireland, ACA Foundation Examination 2

Ciaran Spillane has had a distinguished career, serving as an EU member of the ITER Financial Audit Board and a member of the Audit Committee of the EU Fusion for Energy Joint Undertaking - F4E. "I studied for my ACA qualification under Diarmuid Hegarty, who was a founder of Griffith. I have always admired your college as it has grown into such an influential and useful institution."

1977: Michael Cawley

1st Place in Ireland, ACA Final Examination

Michael Cawley, known for his significant role at Ryanair since 1997, currently serves as their non-executive director. He is also the chairman of Hostelworld Group and Winthrop Technologies and a non-executive director of Clancourt Management and Gowan Group Ltd.

Griffith College: A Legacy of Achievement

The success stories of our alumni are a testament to Griffith College’s commitment to excellence. As we celebrate GC50, we honour the achievements of these remarkable individuals and look forward to continuing our legacy of nurturing talent and fostering professional growth. Here's to another 50 years of excellence! 

Make sure to keep an eye out for the next edition of GC50 highlights, where we will celebrate our 1980s pioneers of excellence!

You can also view our Alumni Profiles at: https://www.instagram.com/griffithcollegealumni/