The 2009 Irish Language Scholars are, back row (l-r): Cathal Mac Dhaibhéid (Medicine student from Co Down); Caoimhín Mac Giolla Chaoin (Engineering student from Galway); Cormac Breathnach (Psychology student from Carlow); John Bowden (Dublin student of Engineering). Front Row: Elaine Nic Ghearailt (from Limerick, studying Physiotherapy); Cormac Ó Murchú (Newbridge Commerce student);, Edel Ní Bhraonáin (Arts student from Kerry); Sarah Ní Mhuirí (from Athlone, studying Arts).
One of the Irish Language Scholars is Edel Ní Bhraonáin from The Glen in South West Kerry, who is studying Irish, Politics and Irish Folklore through the BA Arts Programme. “The people in the residence are from all different courses, and not everyone is from a Gaeltacht area. Irish is the first language in the house and we speak it all the time. People ask us if there are checks to make sure that we are using the language, but as we all want to speak Irish, no one needs to force us. Part of the role of a Bord na Gaelige Scholar is to promote Irish on campus and we’ve some great events with people from all over UCD, and a lot of international students come too. I was also part of the Irish language radio programme, and the response to it has been fantastic.”
Edel Ní Bhraonáin
Edel and the other seven Irish Language scholars were at UCD O’Reilly Hall on 20 November to receive their Scholarship awards. One of the other Scholars, Cormac Breathnach from Askea in Carlow was collecting two awards. Cormac is also an Entrance Scholar for Psychology. Entrance scholarships are awarded to the highest point students in each degree programme across the university and in 2009, 165 students received the awards.
Overall, 463 UCD First Years in 2009 reached the “High Achiever” status, by attaining 540 points in their Leaving Certificate. While degrees such as Medicine and Law command high points because of demand for places, 66 UCD degree programmes have students with over 500 CAO points.
At the same event, UCD Sports Scholarships were awarded to 33 first year students in athletics, basketball, camogie, ladies Gaelic football, men’s Gaelic football, ladies hockey, hurling, rowing, rugby and soccer. This year’s recipients included:
- Ireland underage rugby players Andrew Boyle, David Doyle, David Lynch, Ben Marshall, Ciaran Ruddock and Rhys Ruddock
- Domhnall Fox, member of the 2009 Galway Minor All-Ireland Hurling Championship winning side
- Niall McMorrow, member of the victorious Ballyboden St. Enda’s Dublin Senior Hurling Championship teams of 2008 & 2009
- Donal Kingston, Laois Under-21 and senior Gaelic Footballer
- Ladies GAA dual star Natalia Hyland and her Dublin Football team mate Noelle Healy, both members of the victorious Dublin Ladies Football National League winning side and All Ireland Championship finalists in 2009
2009 Rugby Scholars, from left, Peter Du Toit, Ben Doyle, Andrew Boyle, David Doyle, James Thornton, David Lynch, Jordan Egan and Ben Marshall. Picture: Paul Mohan, Sportsfile
The 2009 UCD Choral Scholars were also announced, and included Psychology student Megan O’Neill from Ballymore Eustace in Co Kildare. Megan was one of the scholars who sang at the 2009 Foundation Day Dinner, where UCD alumnus and international rugby star Brian O’Drioscall was presented with the foundation day medal. “There were about 300 people in O’Reilly Hall for the event. We sang “Ireland’s Call” to mark the occasion it really gave me the shivers. Being part of the Scholars has so opened up so many doors for me. We’re going to England to sing next year, and we’ve sung at two sold-out Christmas concerts in University Church. We’re even going on the Late Late show. I had been in musicals, and sung at gigs before I came to UCD, but had never been in a choir, so becoming a Choral Scholar has been an incredible experience.”
Choral Scholars at the 2009 UCD Foundation Day Dinner
UCD Symphony Orchestra Scholarships were awarded to five first year musicians, from across the disciplines at UCD. Violinist Juliana Hahn, who is also an Entrance Scholar, is studying Theoretical Physics, while a fellow violinist Rachel Rynne-Lyons from Kildare is studying Medicine. Clarinet player Maeve Garde from Cork is studying Veterinary Medicine. Health & Performance Science student Daniel Roe joins the Symphony Orchestra on percussion, while cellist Hannah Scaife is now studying Architecture. These musicians will go on to play with the UCD Symphony Orchestra in a series of concerts throughout the year, culminating in an "Americana" concert in the National Concert Hall in March 2010.
2009 UCD Scholars