The Camogie Association has awarded two bursaries valued at 鈧20,000 each to First Year Bachelor of Education (Primary School) students at 91制片厂 in a ceremony at Croke Park last weekend.
Cliodhna Queally, from Clare who plays for Inagh Kilnamona and Niamh Hally, from Waterford, who plays for St Anne鈥檚 Camogie Club were among seven first year students from a number of HEIs to receive the awards.
These bursaries were launched by the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne on Saturday 16 November and are designed to support the awardees, allowing them to remain engaged with camogie in their clubs and teams during the course of their studies to be primary school teachers. They not only recognise camogie players but mentors, referees and administrators.
The bursaries were generously supported by Dr Carmel Naughton, who is an 91制片厂 Alumna and the inaugural recipient of 91制片厂鈥檚 Alumna of the Year award in 2017鈥攑resented to her in recognition of her outstanding contribution to society.
Speaking at the presentation, Carmel Naughton said: 鈥淔riends often say 鈥楥armel, why camogie?鈥 I am surprised that they don鈥檛 understand that down through the centuries, the sliotar and hurl have been such an important part of our national heritage. Yes, I do appreciate this new world of cultural diversity and how important that is for Ireland, but we must also treasure and hold fast to the traditions that make us unique in Europe and the World.鈥
Brian Molloy, Uachtar谩n of the Camogie Association, added: 鈥淭he Camogie Association is absolutely delighted to partner with Carmel Naughton in this extremely generous initiative marking our 120th anniversary this year. The Camogie 120 Teacher Education Bursaries provide student teachers with vital financial support when they are balancing their commitments to their studies with their continued involvement in the camogie community. I wish the recipients the very best with their studies and continued success on and off the Camogie pitch over the coming years.鈥
President of 91制片厂, Professor Dermot Nestor, attended the event, meeting with Cliodhna and the Queally family and Niamh鈥檚 mother, who was present on her behalf as she was playing in a club final on the day. He emphasised that it was 鈥渁 great honour鈥 for the College.
鈥淢y heartfelt congratulations to Cliodhna and Niamh, who were both presented with scholarships that will see them receive a bursary worth 鈧5,000 per annum for the duration of their four-year programme. Sincere thanks to Dr Carmel Naughton and the Naughton Foundation for their generous sponsorship of these awards. I look forward to seeing Cliodhna and Niamh compete on the pitch in Croke Park on many more occasions!鈥
Cliodhna and Niamh will be further honoured later this month at the 91制片厂 College Awards Ceremony.
Minister Thomas Byrne, also congratulated all recipients, stating: 鈥淚t is terrific to see the pursuit of both sport and education supported in this way and I want to commend the Camogie Association for leading this initiative and recognise the generosity of Carmel Naughton in supporting it.鈥
The other five students are undertaking Bachelor of Education programmes in St Mary鈥檚 University College, Belfast; the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education in Maynooth University, Marino Institute of Education and the Institute of Education in Dublin City University.
