The Mulcahy Scholarship was launched in 2018 by the Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Center in Yonkers, New York, in tribute to Denis Mulcahy and his family’s commitment to Project Children, a charity that for forty years, worked untiringly to change the lives of children across Northern Ireland.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Mulcahy Scholarship Program. Click here for more information on the 2026 program and to download the application form.
The deadline for applications is Friday January 30, 2026, at 5PM.
Eligibility
To be considered, eligible applicants:
- Must be an American high school junior or senior (over age 16) at the time of application, with an interest in exploring their Irish heritage.
- Must complete the Mulcahy Scholarship Application Form and prepare a one full page essay on the following topic: “What does the Mulcahy Scholarship Program mean to you, and why would you like to participate?”
- Provide one Personal Character Reference from a non-relative such as a teacher, coach, principal, and/or community leader.
- Provide a copy of a valid passport for international travel.
- Must be available to interview in person on the evening of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Aisling Irish Community Center, Yonkers NY.
- Must be available to participate in the Celtic Irish American Academy cultural program in Galway, Ireland, during the summer, from Sunday, July 12 until Saturday, July 25, 2026 (departure from NYC on Saturday, July 11, 2026).
- Recipients are eligible to be awarded a scholarship once only.
Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to re-apply the following year, if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements listed above.
Students must submit their completed application form and all requested documents via e-mail to:
Mulcahy Scholarship Board of Directors,
c/o Ms. Linda Croston
Email: mulcahyscholarship@aislingcenter.org
The long-term goal of the Mulcahy Scholarship is to develop the necessary funding that will facilitate the growth of this unique program, enabling a large number of American high school students to attend these cultural summer courses in Northern and Southern Ireland. It is integral to the Mulcahy Scholarship that we preserve and promote a strong and progressive connection between Ireland and America.
Forty years later, America is replicating the reverse and the scholarship aims to provide American high school students the opportunity to travel to Ireland and experience Irish culture in a fun and diverse way. Scholarship recipients will participate in educational summer courses, exposing them to Irish culture, heritage, arts and sport.
In 2018, the very first Mulcahy Scholarship Award was proudly presented to Conor James. The Aisling Center partnered with Brian Fahy of the Celtic Irish American Academy (CIAA) summer program and Conor attended their summer school based in Galway City. There, Conor participated in the CIAA summer program, forged many friendships and even learned some “cúpla focal”, all while encompassing the core objective of the scholarship.
Stay tuned for information about upcoming Mulcahy Scholarship opportunities!
