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Lean Scully
Léan Scully attended the Edinburgh International Festival every year. She lived in Dublin and was an active attender of artistic events, but the highlight of her year was her annual visit to Edinburgh. Staying at the Royal Overseas League on Princes Street she built up a wide circle of Festival friends - some resident in Edinburgh, others like Léan, regular visitors to this great city at Festival time.
Léan's Festival day might begin with a morning concert at the Queen's Hall, followed by lunch with fellow Festival supporters and an evening performance at the Usher Hall. Whatever artistic performances were included in her schedule, there was always time for friendship and conviviality. Léan was well known to many of the Festival team and participated in Festival trips to Orkney and Wexford outwith the Edinburgh season.
A "Friend" of the Edinburgh International Festival for many years, Léan indicated that she had remembered this special arts organisation in her will but it was not until after her death in 2005 that the scale of her generosity became apparent. The legacy left to the benefit of the Edinburgh International Festival was the residue of Léan Scully's estate and the sum of €5.5 million or £3.66 million has been invested, in accordance with Léan's wishes, to help further the careers of new and emerging artists at the EIF.
In order to ensure that the investment is well managed, The Léan Scully EIF Fund has been set up as a sub fund of the Edinburgh International Festival Endowment Fund which has been in existence since 1989. The EIF Endowment Fund was established as a capital fund, the income from which can be applied by the Trustees to support the Festival Director in special initiatives. Annually, the Trustees consider two applications for support from the EIF: one for support from its general fund, and another for the income generated from The Léan Scully EIF Fund applied in keeping with the terms of Léan's will.
Already, Festival audiences have enjoyed performances by Llŷr Williams with the Minnesota Orchestra and Thomas Adès with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. In 2008, the Léan Scully EIF Fund supports an exciting young cast in Handel's Israel in Egypt and young and emerging talent throughout the Festival.
Léan Scully was an endearing and inspiring lady and the Edinburgh International Festival is proud to ensure that her memory and spirit will live on. For those who knew her well, and for those who will be the beneficiaries of her generosity in the years to come, we pay tribute to an extraordinary lady.
Edinburgh International Festival Endowment Fund
Charity No: SC004511
