23/09/2024
We received news last week the death of Luke Murtagh in Ireland. Luke had a stellar career as an educator with a passion for innovation and thinking outside the box. He also had a huge impact on me, my colleagues and the early development of ULS. I first met Luke when he was CEO of the North Tipperary VEC, in association with his colleague John Slattery of the South Tipperary VEC. From the outset, his vision, creativity and ability to commit to new inclusive thinking impressed me. His pet project was the creation of a rural development institute in Tipperary - which he would achieve with the creation of TRBDI (Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute). In time the became the TipperaryInstitute, then part of Limerick Institute and today part of the Technological University of the Shannon. Luke was a pioneer in digital and distance education and was our key support in initiating the research and pilot sessions for the shared Master's program we developed with the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. We achieved the first ever full Master's delivery between the United States and Europe in our program between 1998 and 2001. This evolved into a wide set of initiatives and exchanges over the years that helped transform rehabilitation professionalism in Ireland and further afield. From the outset, Luke grasped the opportunities and potential and guided us into extraordinary developments with the United States, Zambia and various partners in the EU. We owe Luke much - above all his vision and optimism and unfailing sense of human sensitivity and joyful good humor. His contribution is vast and significant and we are proud of having known and worked with him so intensively. On behalf of myself, my ULS colleagues (and our departed colleague Mel Healy) and treasured associates in the United States (especially Lee Crandall, Chris Schiro-Geist and Michelle Marmé) I extend our condolences to his family and the deepest wish that he may rest in peace.
