Posted by in Sport.


Twenty five new recipients of University Sports Scholarships were presented at a special ceremony at NUI Galway yesterday, bringing the total number of sports scholarship students now at the college to 60.

This year’s recipients reflect the growing strength of sport in the region and the wide variety of talent that NUI Galway attracts.

Claregalway’s Angela O’Connor is one of Ireland’s most promising young swimmers who will train in the new Connacht High Performance centre based at the University, while Lauren Murray – also from Claregalway – will play with the newly formed NUI Galway Mystics in Division 1 of the National Basketbal League.

Robert O’Callaghan from Taylor’s Hill was part of the NUI Galway/Gráinne Mhaol crew that won the senior 8s at the Irish Rowing Championships in 2012, and Conor Egan from Bushypark and Dan Hindle from Corrandulla were part of the successful Intermediate 4 at these championships.

Other Galway recipients include boxer Ryan Dervan from Loughrea; camogie star Niamh McGrath from Ballinasloe, and Galway city quartet Colm Horgan (soccer) Tara Melvin (hockey) and golfers Joe Lyhons and Damien McDonough.

Clare’s Aaron Cunningham and Conor McGrath were part of the Clare team that won the All Ireland U21 Championshi in 2012 and Mayo footballer Conor O’Shea.

This year the NUI Galway Soccer Club will present a scholarship in memory of the late Eamonn Chick Deacy.

Chick, formerly of Galway United, won an English League title with Aston Villa in 1981, he won four Irish International caps and received an honorary Masters of Arts degree from NI Galway in 2009. The first recipient of this award is Gabriel Darcy who is studying physics and medical physics.

NUI Galway offers comprehensive sports scholarships to students each year to support and develop their sporting and academic careers.

As well as financial support, scholarship holders get access to NUI Galway facilities as well as physio and medical care, coaching and academic support and a range of services designed to help athletes reach the top.

Previous recipients include World U23 Handball Champion Diarmuid Nash; World U23 Rowing Silver Medallist Niall Kenny; World Kickboxing Silver Medallist Des Leonard; and Olympians such as Paul Hession, Olive Loughnane, Alan Martin and Cormac Folan.

To apply for a Sports Scholarship at NUI Galway visit http://www.sports.nuigalway.ie/scholarships_info.html for details.