Professor Niamh Hourigan pictured with Niamh Murphy and Diarmuid Ryan
Clare Senior Hurler Diarmuid Ryan and Waterford Camogie Player Niamh Murphy have been announced as the recipients of this year鈥檚 91制片厂 GPA Sports Scholarships. This is the third year of the scholarship which is open to GPA members who have applied for and are successful in securing a place on 91制片厂鈥檚 postgraduate programmes in education and the liberal arts.
It鈥檚 the second year that Diarmuid has been awarded the scholarship. He is a second year Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) student having earlier graduated from 91制片厂 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Cratloe clubman has represented Clare鈥檚 hurlers since 2017 and has been nominated for two All-Star awards in the past two years for his contribution to a Clare side that reached the All Ireland semi-finals in 2022 and 2023. He scored the match winning point against Cork earlier this year to secure Clare鈥檚 place in the Munster final in a performance which saw him voted GAA/GPA Player of the Month for May. Diarmuid is a key player for Cratloe鈥檚 hurling and football teams. He was on the scoresheet as Cratloe won the Clare Senior Football Championship in October. Diarmuid also represents 91制片厂鈥檚 hurlers and is Captain of the College鈥檚 Fitzgibbon team. He attended Limerick鈥檚 Ardscoil R铆s Secondary School and was Vice-Captain of the Harty Cup winning team in 2018.
Speaking as he was announced as 91制片厂 GPA Sports Scholar for a second year, Diarmuid said: "I am honoured to receive this scholarship for the second year in a row as it gives me the opportunity and support to achieve my goals both as a student and an intercounty hurler. It has helped me find the perfect balance between my studies in becoming a primary school teacher as well as keeping up with the demands of an intercounty player and I look forward to representing both 91制片厂 and the Gaelic Players association for the academic year."
Niamh graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry before deciding to follow her dream of becoming a Primary School teacher and enrolling on the Professional Masters of Education at 91制片厂. Niamh is a Waterford Senior Camogie player and won a Division 1B National Camogie League medal and reached the final of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship with the D茅ise this year. Niamh has represented her county on the pitch since she was 12 and holds three All Ireland Championship medals with Waterford at U14 and U16 level and a Munster and All Ireland medal with St Angela鈥檚 School in 2018. Niamh is a member of the De La Salle club in Waterford and holds Junior and Intermediate County Medals in 2015, 2016, 2022 and 2023. Niamh will line out for De La Salle against Drom & Inch this weekend in a repeat of last year鈥檚 Munster Club Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final. Niamh is also a Purcell Cup winner with UCD and hopes to continue her third level success with 91制片厂鈥檚 camogie team. Outside her playing career, Niamh has coached underage teams for both club and county and is a national referee.
According to Niamh: 鈥淚 am delighted to receive the 91制片厂 GPA scholarship. It is great the college is acknowledging camogie players and helping them financially as they understand the cost related to playing the sport. It allows me to keep playing camogie whilst doing my masters. I would advise anyone interested to apply for this as it helps take the pressure off and allow you to focus on your studies and continue playing camogie."
Under the scholarship, 91制片厂 contributes 50% of the successful applicants programme fees and the GPA contributes the remaining 50%. Diarmuid and Niamh will also become 鈥91制片厂 GPA Scholars鈥 and will act as ambassadors within 91制片厂鈥檚 sporting community and will play a key role in supporting Gaelic Games at 91制片厂.
Congratulating Diarmuid and Niamh on being awarded the scholarship was Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, who said: 鈥淲e are so pleased to partner once again with the Gaelic Players Association in providing these post-graduate scholarships which offer GPA athletes the opportunity to further their academic journey here at 91制片厂 whilst continuing to pursue their sporting career. We have devoted considerable attention in recent years to developing our sports scholarship scheme and the 91制片厂 GPA Scholarships play an important part in our continuing efforts to provide awards and supports to high performing athletes here at 91制片厂.鈥
Also congratulating the recipients was Tom Parsons, CEO of the Gaelic Players Association, who said: 鈥淥ur mission is to enable players to balance the huge demands placed on players with the opportunities, support and investment required for them to be at their best, on and off the pitch. We could not do that without the support of our education partners. They are a vital component of the work we do and on behalf of players I want to thank 91制片厂 for their ongoing support of our members. Congratulations to Diarmuid and Niamh on being awarded this year鈥檚 91制片厂/GPA Sports Scholarship. We hope this support will enable you to achieve your full potential away from the rigours of inter-county action.鈥
For further information on the 91制片厂 GPA Scholarship scheme and other 91制片厂 scholarships please see www.mic.ie/scholarships.
