A reception was held on Wednesday in the Student Centre Red Room in recognition of Sports Scholarship Student, Marty Mulkerrins for his fantastic achievements in the recent World Handball Championships held in City West.

The reception was hosted by staff of UCD Bord na Gaeilge, as in addition to his talents on the handball court, Marty or Máirtín Ó Maoilchiaráin, a native Irish speaker, currently is a Bord na Gaeilge Irish Language Residence Scholar, living in the Teach na Gaeilge in Merville.

Marty, an Ag Science student from Galway recently competed in the World Handball Championships in City West. There were more than 2,000 athletes competing from all over the World in front of more than 3,000 fans every day.

Marty reached the final of the Mens U19 singles but unfortunately lost out to his rival, Killian Carroll in an exciting match. However in the Doubles Championship match, Mulkerrins teamed up with Niall O’Connor and claimed the doubles title against Killian Caroll & Pa Herlihy.

The under-19 one wall games were of a serious standard from start to finish but unfortunately Zhou and Lee teamed up brilliantly to defeat Martin Mulkerrins and team mate Kildare’s Niall O’Connor in a fast paced under-19 doubles decider.

They may have lost their one-wall finals to American opposition but Killian Carroll, Martin Mulkerrins and Niall O’Connor all picked up gold medals in the 40x20 championships.

The reception, attended by many friends and fellow members and staff of UCD GAA, applauded Martys achievements both recent and past, as in February of this year, he won the United States Collegiate Handball Open title, in Springfield, Missouri, becoming the first Irish champion in over seven years.