High Scores for DkIT's NI Sports Scholars

08 October 2017

Rising gaelic stars from Northern Ireland are balancing their elite sports dream and pursing their degrees after securing a Sports Scholarship with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT).

Co. Antrim senior footballer Eunan Walsh (20) said

“for me and for a lot of sportspeople, sport is a lot to do with life and has been since I was first brought out to kick a football. Sport and college work well together and what I have been able to experience in DkIT through sport and college will definitely stand to me.”

Eunan, who is also on the Oisin McConville managed DkIT gaelic team that won the Trench cup last year, is in his second year of his ‘Sports, Exercise and Enterprise’ degree course and said,

“throughout school I always had an interest in both business and the sport side of things and the Sports Scholarship allows me to combine those interests.”

Co. Armagh ladies gaelic star Colleen McKenna (19) who is in her second year of Hospitality Management, says being able to combine academia with her love of sports can involve juggling but, “getting out to go to training relaxes you.”

“I applied to DkIT because I felt the course suited me better and I get to go home to my bed every night. With the Sports Scholarship you get great help and support. They really help you out if you are struggling and offer you a wide range of facilities and opportunities too.”

Colleen plays on DkIT Ladies Gaelic team and says it is possible for young women to keep up their sports at third level.

“I know it is very hard to get girls out to play football but once they realise it is manageable, then it is easier for them to commit to things. It is a great way of meeting new people as well.”

Past scholarship winners include Dublin GAA Ladies All Star Carla Rowe (22) and Republic of Ireland U17 and Dundalk FC midfielder Georgie Poynton.

Derek Crilly, DkIT’s Sports and Societies Officer, said,

“we award up to 15 Sports Scholarships each year in team and individual sports including athletics, gaelic, soccer, rugby, paralympics and even surfing.”

“There is a substantial bursary and access to expert coaching and training as well as support including physiotherapy. We want our students to do their best on and off the field.”

The scholarship also includes extensive sport welfare support, including an intensive strength and conditioning programme, sports science training, fitness testing, nutrition advice, sports psychology and physiotherapy. Students also receive open access to the Institute’s new, state-of-the-art indoor sports facility, DkIT Sport.

Teams at DkIT can avail of the indoor training pitch, sessions take place on the strength and conditioning area and scholars can freely use leisure facilities to assist with recovery from training and matches.

Applications for the Sports Scholarship 2018 are now open and available to incoming first year students. Interested applicants should click below:

DkIT Sports Scholarships