UCD welcomes exceptional student athletes as Graduate Sports Scholars
16 October 2025
Back Row - Eoin Ryan, Peter McDonald, James Duggan, Andrew O’Mahony, Jack Nevin, Darragh Reilly, Adam Treanor, Sean O’Regan, Ciaran Conway; Front Row - Dach Murray, Jena Macdougald, Katie Malone, Cara Murphy, Lucy Dunne, Ben O’Carroll, Daire Lynch Credit: UCD Sport / Sportsfile
University College Dublin has celebrated the induction of the 2025/26 Graduate Sports Scholars, the latest group of exceptional student athletes to join the University in support of their sporting and academic pursuits.
Designed to a foster an environment in which athletic excellence and academic achievement go hand in hand, the Graduate Sport Scholarship (GSS) programme supports those who compete at the highest levels - both nationally and internationally - while undertaking postgraduate studies at UCD.
The 16 newest cohorts of the programme were inducted at a special ceremony held on October, and are pursuing postgraduate studies across a number of UCD’s leading academic units, including the (opens in a new window)Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, School of Agriculture and Food Science, School of Education, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Medicine, and School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science.
This year’s recognised outstanding student athletes are involved in a range of sports including athletics, GAA, rowing, rugby, soccer, and swimming.
The 2025/2026 GSS Awardees
| Name | Club | Course | Sponsored By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Treanor | UCD GAA Club | MSc Computer Science | College of Science |
| Andrew O’Mahony |
UCD Rugby Club | MSc Management Consultancy | Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School |
| Ben O’Carroll |
UCD GAA Club | MSc International Business | Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School |
| Ciaran Conway |
UCD Boat Club | MEngSc in Electronic & Computer Engineering | School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering |
| Cara Murphy |
UCD Athletics Club | Graduate Entry Medicine | School of Medicine |
| Daire Lynch |
UCD Boat Club | Graduate Entry Medicine (2nd Year) | School of Medicine |
| Dach Murray | UCD GAA Club | Graduate Entry Medicine (2nd Year) | School of Medicine |
| Eoin Ryan |
UCD GAA Club | Masters in Engineering | College of Engineering |
| Jack Nevin |
UCD GAA Club | Masters in Engineering | College of Engineering |
| James Duggan |
UCD GAA Club | MSc Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development | UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science |
| Jena Macdougald |
UCD Swimming Club | MSc Biotherapeutics & Business | College of Science |
| Katie Malone |
UCD Women’s Soccer Club | MSc Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics | School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science |
| Lucy Dunne |
UCD GAA Club | Professional Masters Education | School of Education |
| Peter McDonald |
UCD GAA Club | Professional Masters Education | School of Education |
| Sean O’Regan |
UCD Men’s Soccer Club | MSc Aviation Finance | Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School |
| Darragh Reilly |
UCD GAA Club | MSc Management Consultancy | Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School |
The GSS programme is run in addition to the existing Ad Astra Elite Scholarships programme and UCD Sport Scholarship programmes.
It offers a comprehensive package of support, including a 50% reduction in tuition fees, academic mentoring, access to elite performance facilities, professional strength and conditioning coaching, and tailored nutritional guidance.
UCD students who have completed their undergraduate studies can apply, as can other Irish and non-Irish students who have completed undergraduate studies in another Irish University/Third Level Institution or outside Ireland.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from UCD Sport)
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
