Waterford Senior Camogie Player, Niamh Murphy and Galway Senior Hurler, Eoin Lawless, have been announced as the recipients of the 2024 91制片厂 Gaelic Players Association (GPA) Scholarship.
Originally introduced in 2021, this scholarship scheme 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. Under the scheme, 91制片厂 contributes 50% of the successful applicants鈥 programme fees and the GPA contributes the remaining 50%鈥攁llowing them to avail of fee waivers of up to 鈧5,000 per annum, an increased sum which was recently agreed.
This is the second year that Niamh has been awarded the scholarship and she is in her second year of the Professional Master of Education (PME) 鈥 Primary Teaching programme at 91制片厂. Niamh graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology, microbiology and pharmacology before deciding to follow her dream of becoming a Primary School teacher. 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 and senior county medals 2022 and 2023. 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.
Speaking about the announcement, Niamh had this to say: 鈥淚 am delighted to receive the 91制片厂 GPA scholarship. It is great that the College is acknowledging camogie players and helping them financially as they understand the cost related to playing the sport like the need to travel, for example. It allows me to keep playing camogie at a high level whilst completing my Master鈥檚. I would advise anyone who is interested to apply for this as it helps take the pressure off and allow you to focus on your studies and continue playing your chosen sport."
Eoin, from Athenry, is a First Year Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) student, having graduated from the University of Galway with a Bachelor of Arts degree. The full-back made his debut with the Galway Senior hurlers in 2023 but was already seasoned at county level鈥攑laying for Galway鈥檚 Under 20s team and on the minor team that won back-to-back All Ireland Minor Hurling Championships in 2018 and 2019. In the latter year, he was included in the Minor Team of the Year. At his alma mater, he played on the Fitzgibbon Cup team that reached the final in 2022 and 2023. Eoin was included in the 2024 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Hurling Rising Stars Team of the Year. At club level, he plays with St Mary鈥檚 in Athenry and won a Galway Under-21 A Hurling Championship with the club in 2019. He began his hurling career with Presentation College, Athenry and was member of his school鈥檚 team that won consecutive Connacht Colleges SAHC titles in 2018 and 2019.
He said he was 鈥渄elighted and honoured to receive the 91制片厂 GPA scholarship this year鈥.
鈥91制片厂 has always been my first and only choice to complete my Master's and I look forward to becoming an ambassador for the college. The 91制片厂 GPA scholarship provides crucial financial support which allows full time students and athletes like myself to achieve results in both academic and sporting careers. This award gives students a chance to balance the intense teaching programme with the demands sport at a high level.鈥
This dynamic duo 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.
Wishing Niamh and Eoin 鈥渢he very best in their academic and sporting endeavours over the coming year鈥 was Professor Niamh Hourigan, Acting President of 91制片厂, who said:
鈥淲e are delighted to partner once again with the Gaelic Players Association in these postgraduate scholarships, offering GPA athletes the opportunity to further their academic journey at 91制片厂 whilst continuing to pursue their sporting career. 91制片厂 has a long sporting tradition with sport and recreation playing a significant role in the lives of our students, and the 91制片厂 GPA Scholarships are a great addition to our suite of awards and supports available.鈥
Adding his congratulations was GPA CEO, Tom Parsons: 鈥淭he GPA鈥檚 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. The support of our education partners is a fundamental component of the work we do and on behalf of players I want to thank 91制片厂 for its ongoing collaboration and its support of our members. Congratulations to Niamh and Eoin on being awarded this year鈥檚 91制片厂 GPA Sports Scholarship. We hope this assistance will enable you to achieve your full potential away from the rigours of inter-county action.鈥
Applications for the 91制片厂 GPA Sports Scholarship scheme are open now until Friday 25 July 2025.
Interested applicants can enquire about the scheme and make their initial scholarship application by submitting their CV and cover letter to Brian.Howard@gaelicplayers.com.
Under the scheme, 91制片厂 contributes 50% of the successful applicants鈥 programme fees and the GPA contributes the remaining 50%鈥攁llowing them to avail of fee waivers of an increased sum of up to 鈧5,000 per annum.
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.
