News & Fixtures

 

At a reception in UCD today the recipients of the Grant Thornton and Cadburys Gaelic Football scholarships were announced.

At a reception in UCD today (12 noon Monday 25^th January) the recipients of the Grant Thornton and Cadburys Gaelic Football scholarships were announced. 

The recipients of the Grant Thornton scholarships are:

·         Laois Senior player and UCD Sigerson Cup Captain John O’Loughlin.

·         Laois Minor & Under 21 player Donal Kingston.

While the recipients of the Cadburys GAA scholarships are:

·         Westmeath Minor & Under 21 player John Heslin.

·         Donegal Minor & Under 21 player Donal O’Currain.

They join 27 other students who are in receipt of gaelic games scholarships that guarantee them access to top coaches and training facilities at UCD.  Some of Ireland ’s best known gaelic footballers are former UCD sports scholars including Trevor Giles, Alan Brogan, Barry Cahill, Stephen Lucey, Ciaran McManus and Paul Griffin.

Commenting on the scholarship awards Brian Mullins Director of Sport said:

“Our scholarship programme has proven to be fundamental to the sporting and academic success of our students.  The support we receive from Grant Thornton, in honouring the memory of former Grant Thornton partner and UCD captain, the late Sean Murray, and Cadburys, as part of their All Ireland Under 21 Football Championship sponsorship, is vital to the continued success of our programme”.

Pictured at the announcement of the Grant Thornton UCD Gaelic Football Scholarships in memory of the late Sean Murray are Noel Delaney (Director, Grant Thornton) with the scholarship recipients and Laois players Donal Kingston and John O’Loughlin.

The UCD sports scholarship programme aims to develop elite athletes who can compete at the highest national and international level.  In total 124 UCD students are in receipt of sports scholarships in 2009/10.  Team sport is specifically encouraged through the scholarship programme and the University fields teams at the highest competitive level indeed in gaelic games the senior hurling and gaelic football sides have a strong tradition in both the University and Dublin Championship competitions.

In addition to the Sports Scholarship Programme, UCD has just recently launched the UCD Elite Athlete Academy specifically for students who are currently competing and succeeding at the highest levels while simultaneously attaining a university degree.  The Elite Athlete Academy offers early university placement to successful applicants as well as flexible study arrangements, academic mentoring and specialist sports science supports.  Full details of the UCD Sports Scholarship Programme & Elite Athlete Academy are available from www.ucd.ie/sport/eliteathleteacademy.

Cadburys GAA Scholarship Recipients 2009/2010

John Heslin                             1^st Agricultural Science                           Westmeath

Honours:         Westmeath Minor and Under 21 footballer.

Donal O’Currain                     3^rd   Arts                                                   Donegal

Honours:         Donegal Minor and Under 21 player.

Grant Thornton GAA Scholarship Recipients 2009/2010

Donal Kingston                        1^st   Arts                                                    Laois

Honours:         Member of the Knockbeg Colleges team.  Laois Senior and Under 21 player.

John O’Loughlin                     2^nd Arts                                                    Laois

Honours:      Current UCD Sigerson team captain and Laois Senior player. All Ireland Colleges “B” winners medal with Roscrea in 2004.  Captained Laois Under-16 Football team in 2005.  Played with Laois county team from Under 14 level to Minor in both hurling and football.