Institute of Technology Carlow will tonight celebrate 21 years of its sports scholarship programme at a special ceremony for 2019/2020 sports scholars that includes international athletes Molly Scott and John Fitzsimons, Kilkenny senior hurler Richie Leahy, Laois senior hurler Enda Rowland, Tipperary senior camogie player Eimear Loughman and cyclist Luke Smith, amongst others.
The sports scholarship programme, which began in 1999, provides financial and academic support, mentoring, injury rehabilitation, strength and conditioning support, high performance coaching and access to Institute of Technology Carlow’s renowned sports facilities.
More than 1,000 students have been awarded sports scholarships since the programme began and read like a who’s who of Irish sport, including familiar names such as Aidan Fogarty (hurling), Rihanna Jarrett (soccer), Denis Coulson (rugby), Grainne Murphy (swimming), Ciara Cooney (rugby) and Brian Hurley (Gaelic football).
The number of scholarships offered to students has more than doubled since 1999, reflecting Institute of Technology Carlow’s position as one of Ireland’s leading third-level institutes for the provision of sport and physical activity.
Tonight’s ceremony will see 87 students who are competing at the highest level in their chosen sport awarded elite and gold sports scholarships for the 2019/2020 academic year as a result of their exceptional sporting ability.
This year will see the introduction of two postgraduate scholarships by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) to Kilkenny’s Luke Scanlon and Liam Blanchfield. The occasion will also see two awardees of the Carlow GAA scholarships in both hurling and football to Cian Doyle and Josh Moore, respectively, and a scholarship by Carlow Camogie to Emma Cody.
The scholarships provide financial support, as well as mentoring, nutrition and sports rehab support and access to the Institute’s first-class sports facilities.
Explorer and motivational speaker Mark Pollock will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony that will be attended by students, parents and academic staff.
A special presentation will made to Institute of Technology Carlow graduate and international athlete Marcus Lawler in recognition of the Bronze Medal he won at this year’s World University Games.
Today will also see a separate afternoon ceremony for students who will be awarded academic scholarships. Now in its 16th year, the Institute’s academic scholarship initiative awards an academic scholarship to those students who have attained the highest entry points for their chosen programme of study at Institute of Technology Carlow in 2019/20.
A total of 37 academic scholars from counties across Leinster and Munster will be joined by their parents and a school representative for the ceremony at which Mr. John Purcell, CEO of KCLR and Chairman at Independent Broadcasters of Ireland will deliver the keynote address.
As part of the academic scholarships ceremony, seven Chinese nationals will be awarded under the Claddagh Scholarship Programme. The Claddagh Scholarship Programme, was established and organised by Education in Ireland and is open to citizens of China and Hong Kong.
Congratulating the sports and academic scholars on their achievements, Dr. Patricia Mulcahy, President of Institute of Technology Carlow said, “Today, in a milestone year for this Institute’s scholarship programme, we congratulate all our scholars and applaud them for their talent, dedication, persistence and leadership. You exemplify commitment and the achievement of excellence and are an inspiration for us all”.
