Local GAA and Camogie sports stars awarded scholarships for Hibernia College programmes
Hibernia College awarded five sports scholarships to recipients from the GPA and the Camogie Association today (Jan 23rd) at Croke Park.
This initiative is part of a Scholarship Scheme which affords Irish sports men and women the opportunity to complete a degree or diploma while they continue to shine for Ireland, their county or club.
The Scholarship Scheme was initiated in Autumn 2012 in co-operation with the Gaelic Players Association, the Camogie Association, Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association and Tennis Ireland.
Hibernia College is Ireland’s largest provider of newly qualified teachers, and 4 of those awarded scholarships yesterday are currently students on the latest cohort of the Professional Diploma in Education programme.
Sinéad Lynch, a county championship winner with Lough Lene Gaels in County Westmeath, and Sharon Lee, who currently plays for Kinvara Senior Camogie Club in Galway and won a British Final with London County last summer, were nominated for the awards by the Camogie Association. Both Sinéad and Sharon are graduate student teachers on the Professional Diploma in Education programme.
Among those nominated by the GPA were; Aidan Harte, a senior hurler for Galway and his club Gort; Ger Brennan, who plays senior football for St. Vincent’s and won an All-Ireland Football medal with Dublin in 2011 and Alan Dillon, who plays senior football for Mayo and for his club Ballintubber.
Both Aidan Harte and Ger Brennan are graduate student teachers on the Professional Diploma in Education programme while Alan Dillon is a student on the Diploma in Management (for Graduates) programme. The Diploma is part of a recently launched series of undergraduate programmes in business, management and computing awarded by the prestigious University of London.
All of these graduate student teachers are about to embark on their first block of Teaching Practice affording them an opportunity to combine their sporting and educational expertise in post primary schools across the country.
Notes:
Hibernia College initiated the Scholarship Scheme in 2012 for the Autumn cohort intakes to support active sports people from various disciplines while pursuing academic courses, including Camogie, GAA, Rugby, Tennis.
Hibernia College criteria for eligibility include;
– A strong commitment to the programme of study, including a recognition of the time commitment involved
– A strong academic interest in and motivation for studying and/or clear objectives for career progression arising from the programme of study
– A commitment to fulfilling any specific criteria as laid out by your individual sporting organisations
– Any outstanding academic, professional or personal achievements that you feel will help your application
Camogie Association
The Camogie Association is involved with over 177 second level schools nationwide, with up to 3,000 girls taking part in the game of camogie. At third level, camogie is played in 24 institutes of education nationwide, with 16 of those participating in the Ashbourne & Purcell Cup Finals weekend, which this year takes place in the University of Limerick. These competitions are the oldest and most prestigious competitions in the Camogie Association. It is one of Ireland’s leading female sports organisations with over 100,000 members and 560 camogie clubs. The game of camogie is played nationally and overseas and camogie is the fastest field sport for women in the world. Established in 1904, it is an integral part of the Gaelic Games family.
Gaelic Players Association (GPA)
The Gaelic Players Association is a not-for-profit, membership organisation representing over 2200 current county hurlers and footballers. The official representative body for county players, the GPA is governed by three elected officers, a national executive committee and three sub-committees – management, finance and remuneration. The GPA's Player Development Programme is funded by the GAA.
Pictured above: (l-r) Hibernia College awarded five sports scholarships to recipients from the GPA and the Camogie Association on Wed Jan 23rd at Croke Park. At the presentation are Hibernia College Professional Diploma in Education scholarship award recipients, from left, Aidan Harte, Gaelic Players Association, Sinéad Lynch, Camogie Association, and Sharon Lee, Camogie Association, with, from left, President of the Gaelic Players Association Dessie Farrell, President of the Camogie Association Aileen Lawlor, President of Hibernia College Dr. Seán M. Rowland and Hibernia College Professional Diploma in Education Programme Director Melanie Ní Dhuínn. Hibernia College Scholarships Presentation, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
