Published on: Monday, 14 May 2018

A scholarship in honour of IMPACT activist, the late Tom Bogue, was launched by the Department of Applied Social Studies at an event at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). The €6,000 “Tom Bogue Postgraduate Fees Scholarship” was established by Forsa Trade Union to remember Tom and reflect his commitment to education and social progress.

The launch took place today, Tuesday, 14th May, in CIT Council Chambers and CIT President, Dr Barry O’Connor accepted the award on behalf of the Institute. The Scholarship will offer a Masters Student the opportunity to continue their education in the area of research in the development of social policy. “This generous scholarship will allow a CIT student pursue their research and publish their outputs ensuring contribution to debate and social policy for which Tom Bogue was a strong advocate” commented Jim Walsh, Head of Department of Applied Social Studies.

Tom’s trade union career spanned over 50 years from his first union meeting in 1962. He was a stalwart of IMPACT’s Cork branch, the Cork Trades Council and the ICTU Unemployed Centre in Cork city. He was a president of the Local Government and Public Services Union (LGPSU), one of the unions that merged to create IMPACT now Forsa. He was respected throughout the union movement for his commitment, hard work, and cool judgement and his deep understanding of local government and public service issues. An avid reader and a student of social studies, Tom brought great intelligence to debate and was an inspiration to those who worked with him. He was known, respected, and held in great affection by generations of Forsa members.

Tom sadly passed away in April 2014 but his was a life of selfless dedication: to his family first and foremost, and to his many friends, his community, to public service, and to his trade union work. He was an inspiration to those who worked with him and he was known, respected, and held in great affection by generations of IMPACT members.