NUI Galway Vice President for the Student Experience, Dr Pat Morgan, recently presented 28 outstanding athletes with NUI Galway Student Sports Scholarships. The new recipients bring to 94 athletes in 18 different sports that are supported by the NUI Galway scheme.

This year’s ceremony also saw the Performance Points Sports Scholarship awarded to seven outstanding athletes.The scheme provides 40 additional points to those earned in the Leaving Certificate for elite athletes, for academic courses over 350 entry points.

Kathy Hynes, NUI Galway Clubs Sports Officer, manages the scholarship scheme: “The support the students receive from these scholarships is designed to maintain their academic and sporting progress. It is very rewarding to support athletes from a range of sports in their academic and athletic endeavour to achieve in both areas the best they can be.”

This year’s recipients represent some of the finest young women’s talent in Irish sport today including Lisa Casserly, a member of the Irish U19 International Women’s soccer team, and Olivia Divilly, who has represented her club Kilkerrin Clonberne at county minor and senior level and is considered one of the brightest stars in women’s Gaelic football. Also receiving a scholarship was Emer Fogarty who is continuing to progress up the inter-county and college sporting ladder, Ailish O’Reilly, a leading light in the camogie circuit as an All-star won the All-Ireland senior camogie final in 2013, and Edel McMahon, Connacht and Women’s Irish Rugby interprovincial representative panel.

The men’s soccer club will host the 100 years Collingwood cup competition in Dangan in February 2015 and soccer recipients Sean Gavin, who captained U21 Salthill Devon to FAI Eircom League cup, Evan Boyce, Mervue United U19 league of Ireland team and Niall Whelan will be welcome additions to the squad.

NUI Galway continues to grow its success in Rowing, with 2013/2014 proving to the most successful in the clubs history with a record number of eight championship victories including the ‘Blue riband’ event in men’s and women’s rowing in Ireland – the senior eights. Four scholarships were awarded to rowing athletes, Stephanie Creed, Richard Bennett, Liam Keane, Aidan Kinneen. The 2014 recipients will join an already established rowing team and previous scholarship recipients, Patrick Higgins, Luis Simo. Keville Neville and Manta Pukelis.

Rugby scholarships were presented to Malcolm Hanley, Connacht academy player, Conan O’Donnell, Connacht U17 player, David O’Mahony, U20 Munster squad, Edel McMahon and Hugh O’Donnell.

Swim Ireland Connacht Performance centre based on the NUI Galway campus has continued to attract the finest of swimmers with Kelly McNicholas, seven time USA Olympic trails qualifier and Keelhan Ward, Waterpolo, both receiving swimming scholarships.

Scholarships in individual sports such as judo, golf and volleyball were awarded to All Ireland Judo champion, Stephen Bradshaw, Colm Hughes with a golf handicap of 1.7, and Paul Holohan, a member of the U17 Irish volleyball squad.

Hurling recipients included Galway minor goalkeeper Cathal Tuohy and Clare hurler Cathal Cleary.

Men’s Gaelic Football within NUI Galway continues to attract high profile players and future talent including Damien Commer, Raymond Connellan, Michael Daly, Andrew Mc Cormack, Enda Tierney and Ritchie Feeney all secured scholarships on the night.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Vice-President for the Student Experience, Dr Pat Morgan, said: “I would like to congratulate the recipients of this year’s awards and remind them of the honour of representing the University and we hope they will aspire to even greater successes such as those achieved by the recent scholarship holders in Hurling, Camogie, Rowing, Rugby and Swimming who have reached the pinnacle of their sports.”

Performance Points awardees:

• Gaelic Football: Olivia Divilly from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
• Gaelic Football: Eoin  O’Donoghue from Belmullet, Co. Mayo
• Gaelic Football: Enda Tierney from Oughterard, Co. Galway
• Rugby: Peter Claffey from Portumna, Co. Galway
• Rugby: Marc Kelly form Portumna, Co. Galway
• Soccer: Lisa Casserly from Ballinderreen, Co. Galway
• Swimming: David O’Sullivan from Kingston, Galway City

NUI Galway Sports Scholarships awardees:

• Archery: Carl Byrne from Greystones, Co. Wicklow
• Basketball: Stephen O’ Brien from Bushypark, Galway
• Camogie: Ailish O’Reilly from Maree, Co. Galway
• Hurling: Conor Cleary from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
• Hurling: Cathal Tuohy from Whitegate, Co. Clare
• Gaelic Football: Damien Comer from Claregalway, Co. Galway
• Gaelic Football: Raymond Connellan from Athlone, Co. Westmeath
• Gaelic Football: Michael Daly from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
• Gaelic Football: Richie Feeney from Ballintubber, Co. Mayo
• Gaelic Football: Emer Fogarty from Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
• Gaelic Football: Andrew McCormack from Derryhall, Co. Westmeath
• Golf: Colm Hughes from Knocknacarra, Galway
• Judo: Stephen Bradshaw from Douglas, Co. Cork
• Rowing: Stephanie Creed from Coachford, Co. Cork
• Rowing: Richard Bennett from Renmore, Galway
• Rowing: Liam Keane from Dangan, Galway
• Rowing: Aidan Kinneen from Renmore, Galway
• Rugby: Malcolm Hanley from Renmore, Galway
• Rugby: Edel McMahon from Kilmihil, Co. Clare
• Rugby: David O’Mahony from Clonakilty, Co. Cork
• Rugby: Conan O’Donnell from Standhill Road, Sligo
• Rugby: Hugh O’Donnell from The Curragh, Co. Kildare
• Soccer: Sean Gavin from Caragh Hill, Galway
• Soccer: Evan Boyce from Renmore, Galway
• Soccer: Niall Whelan from Market Street, Galway
• Swimming: Kelly McNichols from Illinois, USA
• Volleyball: Paul Holohan from Loughrea, Co. Galway
• Waterpolo: Keelan Ward from Salthill, Galway

-Ends-

28 Scoláireacht Nua Spóirt bronnta ag OÉ Gaillimh

Dé Luain, 17 Samhain 2014: Bhronn Leas-Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh d'Eispéireas na Mac Léinn, an Dr Pat Morgan, Scoláireachtaí Spóirt de chuid OÉ Gaillimh ar 28 lúthchleasaí den scoth le deireanas.   Is 94 lúthchleasaí san iomlán anois a bhaineann le 18 spórt éagsúla a bhfuil scoláireacht spóirt bronnta orthu faoi scéim na hOllscoile.

Ag searmanas na bliana seo freisin bronnadh Scoláireacht Spóirt Pointí Ardfheidhmíochta ar sheachtar lúthchleasaithe de scoth.Faoin scéim seo tugtar 40 pointe breise do shár-lúthchleasaí anuas ar na pointí a fhaigheann an mac léinn san Ardteistiméireacht; le cláir léinn os cionn 350 pointe iontrála a bhaineann an scéim seo.

Is í Kathy Hynes, Oifigeach Clubanna Spóirt na hOllscoile, a riarann an scéim scoláireachtaí: "Tá an tacaíocht a thugtar do na mic léinn faoin scéim seo leagtha amach ionas gur féidir leo dul chun cinn a dhéanamh sa réimse acadúil agus sa réimse spóirt araon. Tá an-sásamh le baint as an gcúnamh seo atáimid a thabhairt do lúthchleasaithe ó réimsí éagsúla spóirt agus iad ag iarraidh barr feabhais a bhaint amach ina gcuid léinn agus sa spórt a bhfuil siad gafa leis."

Tá cuid de na ban-lúthchleasaithe is fearr sa tír i gceist i mbliana – Lisa Casserly, atá ar fhoireann sacair na hÉireann faoi 19, agus Olivia Divilly, atá tar éis imirt lena contae sna mionúir agus sna sinsir ar son a club, Cill Choirín-Cluain Bheirn, agus atá ar dhuine de na réaltaí is mó a bhfuil gealladh fúithi i bPeil na mBan.   Tá scoláireacht faighte freisin ag Emer Fogarty atá ag dul chun cinn go láidir ag an leibhéal contae agus coláiste; Ailish O’Reilly, duine de na himreoirí camógaíochta is fearr sa tír agus a bhuaigh gradam Sárimreora agus Bonn Uile-Éireann i gCamógaíocht na Sinsear in 2013; agus Edel McMahon, atá ar phainéal rugbaí ban Chonnacht agus ar phainéal chúigí na hÉireann.

Reáchtálfaidh club sacair na bhfear Corn Collingwood (an 100ú comórtas) i mbliana sa Daingean i mí Feabhra 2015. Beidh fáilte mhór sa chlub roimh na scoláireachtóirí sacair Seán Gavin, a bhí ina chaptaen ar Salthill Devon faoi 21 nuair a bhuaigh siad Corn Sraithe Eircom FAI, Evan Boyce ó fhoireann Faoi 19 Mervue United faoi 19 i Sraith na hÉireann, agus Niall Whelan.

Tá ag éirí thar cionn i gcónaí leis an Ollscoil i gcúrsaí iomraimh; ba í 2013/2014 an bhliain ab fhearr fós i stair an chlub – bhuaigh an club ocht gcinn de chraobhchomórtais agus an príomhchomórtas in iomramh na bhfear agus na mban in Éirinn, iomramh ochtair na sinsear, ar cheann díobh sin. Bronnadh ceithre scoláireacht ramhaíochta, ar Stephanie Creed, Richard Bennett, Liam Keane, Aidan Kinneen. Rachaidh scoláireachtóirí na bliana seo isteach i bhfoireann iomraimh na hOllscoile in éineacht le Patrick Higgins, Luis Simo, Keville Neville agus Manta Pukelis, a fuair scoláireachtaí roimhe seo. Keville Neville and Manta Pukelis.

Bronnadh scoláireachtaí rugbaí ar Malcolm Hanley, imreoir in Acadamh Chúige Chonnacht; Conan O’Donnell, imreoir faoi 17 le Cúige Chonnacht; David O’Mahony, atá ar phainéal faoi 20 Chúige Mumhan; ar Edel McMahon agus ar Hugh O’Donnell.

Tá Ionad Ardfheidhmíochta do Chúige Chonnacht ag Cumann Snámha na hÉireann ar champas na hOllscoile agus tá ag éirí leis an ionad sin togha na snámhaithe a tharraingt chuige féin. Orthu sin tá Kelly McNicholas, a cháiligh seacht n-uaire do thrialacha Oilimpeacha na Stát Aontaithe, agus Keelhan Ward, póló uisce – ghnóthaigh an bheirt acu scoláireachtaí snámha.

Bronnadh scoláireachtaí i spóirt aonair ar nós júdó, gailf agus eitpheile ar Sheaimpín na hÉireann sa júdó, Stephen Bradshaw, ar Cholm Hughes a bhfuil cis ghailf 1.7 aige, agus ar Paul Holohan, atá ar phainéal eitpheile faoi 17 na hÉireann.

Ar na scoláireachtóirí iománaíochta tá cúl báire na Gaillimhe sna mionúir, Cathal Tuohy, agus Cathal Cleary ó Cho. an Chláir.

Tagann togha na n-imreoirí i bPeil Ghaelach na bhFear chuig an Ollscoil chuile bhliain, agus bronnadh scoláireachtaí i mbliana ar imreoirí óga ar nós Damien Commer, Raymond Connellan, Michael Daly, Andrew Mc Cormack, Enda Tierney agus Ritchie Feeney.

An labhairt di ag searmanas bronnta na scoláireachtaí, dúirt an Leas-Uachtarán d'Eispéireas na Mac Léinn, an Dr Pat Morgan: "Tréaslaím le chuile dhuine ar ar bronnadh scoláireacht i mbliana agus meabhraím dóibh an onóir a bhaineann le hionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar son na hOllscoile; tá súil againn go ndéanfaidh siad a ndícheall gaisce a dhéanamh faoi mar a rinne mic léinn eile dár gcuid a ghnóthaigh scoláireachtaí san Iománaíocht, Camógaíocht, Iomramh, Rugbaí agus Snámh agus a bhfuil barr feabhais bainte amach acu ina spórt féin.

Scoláireachtóirí Pointí Ardfheidhmíochta:

• Peil Ghaelach: Olivia Divilly as Béal Átha na Sluaighe, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Peil Ghaelach: Eoin O’Donoghue as Béal an Mhuirthead, Co. Mhaigh Eo
• Peil Ghaelach: Enda Tierney as Uachtar Ard, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Rugbaí: Peter Claffey as Port Omna, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Rugbaí: Marc Kelly as Port Omna, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Sacar: Lisa Casserly as Baile an Doirín, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Snámh: David O’Sullivan as Baile an Rí, Cathair na Gaillimhe

Scoláireachtóirí Spóirt OÉ Gaillimh:

• Boghdóireacht: Carl Byrne as na Clocha Liatha, Co. Chill Mhantáin
• Cispheil: Stephen O’ Brien as Páirc na Sceach, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Camógaíocht: Ailish O’Reilly as Meáraí, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Iománaíocht: Conor Cleary as Sráid na Cathrach, Co. an Chláir
• Iománaíocht: Cathal Tuohy as an nGeata Bán, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Peil Ghaelach: Damien Comer as Baile Chláir, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Peil Ghaelach: Raymond Connellan as Baile Átha Luain, Co. na hIarmhí
• Peil Ghaelach: Michael Daly as Béal Átha na Sluaighe, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Peil Ghaelach: Richie Feeney as Baile an Tobair, Co. Mhaigh Eo
• Peil Ghaelach: Emer Fogarty as Cill Chuillinn, Co. Chill dara
• Peil Ghaelach: Andrew McCormack as Derryhall, Co. na hIarmhí
• Galf: Colm Hughes as Cnoc na Cathrach, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Júdó: Stephen Bradshaw as Dúglas, Co. Chorcaí
• Iomramh: Stephanie Creed as Áth an Chóiste, Co. Chorcaí
• Iomramh: Richard Bennett as an Rinn Mhór, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Iomramh: Liam Keane as an Daingean, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Iomramh: Aidan Kinneen as an Rinn Mhór, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Rugbaí: Malcolm Hanley as an Rinn Mhór, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Rugbaí: Edel McMahon as Cill Mhichíl, Co. an Chláir
• Rugbaí: David O’Mahony as Cloich na Coillte, Co. Chorcaí
• Rugbaí: Conan O’Donnell as Bóthar na Leithcheathrún, Sligeach
• Rugbaí: Hugh O’Donnell as an gCurach, Co. Chill Dara
• Sacar: Sean Gavin as Cnoc na Cathrach, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Sacar: Evan Boyce as an Rinn Mhór, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Sacar: Niall Whelan as Sráid an Mhargaidh, Cathair na Gaillimhe
• Snámh: Kelly McNichols as Illinois, SÁM
• Eitpheil: Paul Holohan as Baile Locha Riach, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Póló Uisce: Keelan Ward as Bóthar na Trá, Cathair na Gaillimhe

-Críoch-