Jack McCarthy set up the Patrick Devine Bursary to commemorate the life of his great grandfather, Patrick Devine.  The Bursary is awarded to one student on the Masters Degree Programme in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast in the 2024-25 cohort and includes a monetary award of $10,000 as well as office space at the Mitchell Institute for the student for the duration of their studies.

Siddhi Salunke is the recipient of the Patrick Devine Bursary.  Her MA dissertation will explore the ways in which global health organisations become political actors in conflict and engage in methods of conflict transformation and transitional justice.  Siddhi is originally from California.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Global Health and a Masters Degree in Global Health from the University of California, San Diego.  Her research interests include healthcare systems in conflict zones, medical neutrality, militarism, and digital protest/resistance. 

Commenting on the Bursary, Jack McCarthy said:

“Some people walk down Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey and think about its history going back to revolutionary times.  But when I pass Charlton and Nassau Streets, I always remember my great grandfather Patrick Devine.  Born in the small town of Beragh in County Tyrone, he emigrated, penniless, to the United States in the 1870’s.  He joined his sister and her husband in Princeton.  Through his family’s hard work and willingness to take risks, the Devine clan acquired three properties in the center of town.  Patrick operated the family’s grocery store on the corner of Nassau and Charton until his death in 1925.  The other two properties are still owned by his great grandchildren - over one hundred years and forty years in the same family.”

Mitchell Institute Director Professor Richard English commented:

"The Mitchell Institute is very grateful to Jack McCarthy for this generous gift, and are delighted that Siddhi Salunke has been supported by the bursary in her work here at Queen's University.  She has already made a great contribution to the life of the Institute and we congratulate her on her well-deserved success."