Over 100 elite student athletes attending University of Limerick have received sports scholarship awards.
107 of UL’s finest athletes from 19 different sports were presented with a scholarship from the UL Sports Scholarship Academy, the aim of which is to support dual-career student athletes to meet the requirements of their degree programme, while also honouring their sporting commitments.
To date, UL has invested almost €1m in the sports scholarship academy.
Joining the athletes in receiving recognition was All-Ireland winning hurling manager John Kiely, who was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by UL President Professor Mey.
It was the first time that UL’s Sports Scholarship Awards were held in conjunction with an Honorary Doctorate Conferring Ceremony and over 100 elite athletes from various sports were in attendance alongside the four-time All-Ireland winning manager.
Professor Mey offered “warm congratulations and wish you the very best of luck as you develop your sporting and academic excellence before you go out into the world to make a difference.
“On this day of sporting achievements, it is only fitting that you join on stage with one of the greatest sporting leaders of our time – multiple All-Ireland hurling manager John Kiely. I am delighted to welcome John and his family here today to join us in celebrating his own phenomenal achievements and those of our 107 sports scholarship recipients,” Professor Mey added.
Neasa O’Donnell, Senior Executive Manager UL Sport, said: “As the University continues to expand, so too will the reach of the Academy as we see more students winning All Ireland titles and achieving podium finishes at European and world events and we look forward to watching our student athletes represent Ireland at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
“In the meantime, heartiest congratulations to each and every athlete who is being presented with a sports scholarship today.”
Among those receiving scholarship awards were Roisin Cahill (kayaking), Ciara Neville (athletics), Mark McDonagh, (horse racing), Kate Flannery, (rugby), Sarah Hickey, (basketball) and Tiernan O'Donnell, (para basketball).
For more information on the UL Sports Scholarships, see here: https://www.ul.ie/sportsscholarships.