November 2007 Over €100,000 Awarded to Student Athletes at NUI Galway

Sports Scholarships amounting to over €100,000 have been presented to the recipients of this year's NUI Galway Sports Scholarships Scheme. Now in its tenth year, the scheme supports the University's student athletes who excel in their respective sporting fields and gives them the opportunity of developing their sporting prowess whilst studying at NUI Galway.

At a special ceremony in the University, 82 students were presented with awards by the NUI Galway's Vice-President for Physical Resources Keith Warnock. Fourteen athletes, who are already on sports scholarships and still studying at the University, received €2,000 again this year. A further 13 students received scholarships (worth €2,000) for the first time, while an additional 50 students benefited to the tune of €1,000 each, under the University's Bursary scheme.

This year's Scholarship winners include Niamh Fahy from Killanin, Co Galway - current Galway Ladies Gaelic Football Star and Irish Senior Ladies Soccer International; Niamh Kilkenny, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway - Galway Senior Camogie star; David Conway, Ballickmoyler Co. Laois - Gaelic Football player; David Duffy, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath – all Ireland Gaelic Football Fresher winner; David Kenny, Birr, Co. Offaly – up and coming Hurling star; Fiona Carroll, Athenry, Co. Galway - Golf's rising young star; and Liam Molloy, Newcastle, Galway – Rowing International.

In addition to these awards, two students, Mark Ronaldson, Shrule, Co. Mayo and Chris Barrett, Ballina, Co. Mayo, received Gaelic Football scholarships sponsored by Cadbury's as part of their sponsorship of the Cadbury All-Ireland U21 Football Championship. A further three scholarships, sponsored by Galway United and Sports Med West were awarded to Michael Creane from Sligo town; Jack O' Doherty, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal; and Vinny Carrigan from Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

NUI Galway Sports and Recreation Officer, Tony Regan says the Sports Scholarship Scheme initiative encourages students to participate at the highest levels in sport, "The Sports Scholarship Scheme gives a tremendous boost to the sporting ethos of NUI Galway. Over the years, the scheme has supported some excellent athletes with many recipients representing the University with distinction at national and international level. These have included the likes of Paul Hession, current Irish record holder at 60, 100 & 200 metres, Eadaoin Ní Challarain, double Olympic representation in 2000 and 2004, as well as current Olympian Oarsmen, Cormac Folan and Alan Martin."

He added, "We would like to congratulate our awardees who represent a cross section of the most outstanding sporting talent in this country and wish them every success in their future sporting endeavors with the University and indeed further a field".

This year's selection of athletes came from across the academic disciplines and represents a wide variety of sports including Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Camogie, Cycling, Gaelic Games, Golf, Hockey, Kayaking, Rowing, Rugby, Soccer, Surfing, Swimming and Windsurfing.