Scholarships

GAA Scholarships 2007-2008

Double celebration for Queen's GAA

 

Queen’s Gaelic Athletics Association is celebrating on two fronts as 32 students were awarded GAA Academy Scholarships for 2007/08 and a new five-year sponsorship was agreed.

 

The Academy and property company TJ Developments have signed the deal - the first of its kind within the third level sector.

 

Queen’s University has a long history of producing some of Ireland’s top GAA players and the continued development of the Academy is aimed to keep Queen’s at the forefront of Gaelic Games.

 

At the event Business IT student Gemma Begley (Ladies Gaelic Football) will also be recognised for winning an All Star Award in 2007.

 

The GAA scholarship schemes for Men’s Gaelic Football and Hurling, supported by past member donations and the governing body, are named after two patrons. Sean O’Neill and Ted McConnell are among the best known sporting personalities in Ireland.

 

This year, inaugural scholarships will also be awarded to students from Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie.

 

Development Manager for Student Sport, Cathy Gallagher, said the approach was all-inclusive:

 

“The GAA Academy has been developed to strengthen the five student Gaelic clubs. 

“Today we are honouring our top student players via the scholarship scheme, the programmes and initiatives within the Academy, covering administration, coaching, schools competitions and recreational participation. 

“Unrivalled success on the field of play last year, when Queen’s clubs claimed four titles, is being matched by the involvement of students in organising their sport within and outside the university.”  

 

This year’s top awards go to Antrim Senior County Star Justin Crozier and Armagh’s Charlie Vernon, both vital players for Queen’s in their Sigerson and Ryan Cup triumphs in 2007. 

 

Tyrone scoring machine, Gemma Begley and former All Star recipient and veteran of award ceremonies Caroline O’Hanlon have been recognised at the highest level within Ladies Gaelic Football.

 

The deal reaffirms Queen’s commitment to providing a united approach within Camogie, Ladies Football, Handball, Hurling and Gaelic Football under one distinct corporate brand.

 

TJ Developments co-founder Thomas McGeary said: “It is a great honour to be associated with an institution such as Queen’s with its great tradition in Gaelic Games.

“We hope this partnership can cement Queen’s as a leading light for promoting the GAA in Ireland through a wide range of initiatives of which we are now proud to be a part of”.

 

 

Scholarship List for 2007-2008

 

HURLING

 

SURNAME	FIRST NAME	COURSE/ COMMENCEMENT DATE	POSITION	HOME CLUB	AWARD
Boyle	Christopher	Civil Engineering 2004	Midfield, Half Forward	McQuillans, Ballycastle	BRONZE
McAlister	Conor	Civil Engineering 2006	Half/Full Forward	Glenariffe, Oisins	BRONZE
McCluskey	Patrick	Product, Design & Development 2007	Full, Corner Forward	Kevin Lynchs, Dungiven	BRONZE
McKenna	Conor	Environmental & Civil Engineering 2006	Back, Forward, Midfield	Slaughtneil	BRONZE
Woods	Conor	Civil Engineering 2007	Midfield	Ballycran – St Jospehs	BRONZE

 

2006-2007 GAA Academy Awards

Press Release- Queen’s University GAA & Rugby Academy Scholarships

2006-2007

 

‘Investing in Player / Athlete Development’

______________________________________________________________

 

Some of the leading names in local sport will gather today as Queen’s Sport stage a unique event on Friday 15^th December when it recognises the sporting achievements of 55 Rugby, Gaelic Football & Hurling players who have been awarded Academy Sports Scholarships from the University for 2006/07. 

 

Queen’s University has a long history of producing some of Northern Ireland’s top player / athletes and the development of a two specialised Sporting Academies namely Rugby in 2002 and GAA in 2004, has continued to provide cutting edge support services for its high achieving students.  In recent times, players such as Tommy Bowe and Brian Mallon have both benefited from the expertise available at Queen’s.  Today’s event will also welcome medical student Caroline O’Hanlon (Ladies Gaelic Football) as special guest and to recognise her recent achievement of receiving an All Star Award.

 

This year, three award schemes available from Queen’s Sport are available to 55 student players. The scholarship schemes, additionally supported by past member donations and governing body support, are named after 3 patrons who are among the best known sporting personalities in Ireland, namely Dr Jack Kyle (Rugby Academy), Sean O’Neill (Men’s Gaelic Football, GAA Academy) and Ted McConnell (Hurling, GAA Academy).

 

The focus of these schemes is to provide players with the opportunity to get even better.  This is achieved through access to the latest sports science / sports medicine services linked to skills development through expert coaching.  And of course there are a number of additional benefits such as free access to the University’s fantastic sport facilities and academy clothing.  Dr Robert Gamble who heads the expanding Sports Science /Sports Medicine Service areas explains,  “The recent acceptance of Queen’s into the prestigious Russell Group of top 20 universities in the UK means that our high performance athletes can pursue the best academic education in the UK and at the same time unlock their sporting potential through the services that are available through our sporting academies.  It is this combination of academic and sporting development that defines Higher Education sport and enables the development of our future leaders”.

 

In GAA, this year’s top awards went to Derry Senior County Stars Gerard O’Kane, Joe O’Kane and Gavin Donaghy, Down’s Daniel and Eoin McCartan, Antrim’s Kevin McGourty and Kevin Niblock and Armagh’s Charlie Vernon and Miceal O’Rourke. Similarly in Rugby, 6 top awards were awarded to, Michael Barker, David Pollock and Ian Whitten (who played in the U19 World Cup in Dubai last year) as well as Jamie Cornett, Alex Houston and Michael Pyper.

 

Pictured: Queen’s Gaelic Footballers Armagh contingent receive Sean O’Neill Scholarships: Paul Courtney, Charlie Vernon, Miceal O’Rourke

 

Karl Oakes
GAA Academy, Queens PEC,
Botanic Park, Belfast
k.oakes@qub.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 28 90681126
Fax: +44 (0) 28 90681129