By Business & Finance 
The University of Limerick (UL) Foundation has announced the appointment of Irish-American philanthropist, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, as its new chairman of the Board.
Brennan Glucksman and her late husband, Lewis L Glucksman, have been generous supporters of UL for over 20 years, helping to fund many key projects, including the Frank McCourt Chair in Creative Writing, Brennan Court Residence, the Glucksman Library, the Glucksman Chair in Contemporary Writing, the Glucksman Reading Room and the University Concert Hall. Lew Glucksman was also a former Director of the UL Foundation and held the position of Chairman from 1993 to 1999.
Speaking about the announcement, UL president, Professor Don Barry said: “As we look forward to the many exciting opportunities ahead for UL, we are honoured that Loretta has agreed to become Chair of the UL Foundation. She and her late husband, Lew Glucksman, along with their close friend, Chuck Feeney have helped to shape the university from its early days and continue to be a hugely important part of the UL success story.”
David Cronin, chief executive of the UL Foundation added: “Loretta is a shining light in global philanthropy and has led the Ireland Funds to international acclaim. We are hugely appreciative that she will chair the Foundation in the coming years as we continue to play a leading role as a model for successful philanthropic investment.”
Brennan Glucksman said: “My late husband Lew and I have a long history with UL spanning over 20 years and I am delighted to be able to take on this challenge as we build on the University’s successes to date and the new opportunities that lie ahead.”
Over the past two decades, the Glucksmans have made many significant contributions to Ireland and played a key role in philanthropic efforts to spread peace throughout the island of Ireland. In 1993, they established Glucksman Ireland House at New York University and Brennan Glucksman is co-chair on Ireland House’s advisory board. Brennan Glucksman is chairman emeritus of the American Ireland Fund, a position which she stepped down from at the end of 2013 after 18 years.
