15 Elite athletes, who meet strict criteria, will be awarded 40 CAO Performance Points for undergraduate courses under the new NUI Galway Scholarship Scheme

NUI Galway is to reward elite athletes with 40 CAO Performance Points in recognition of their skill, time and dedication in reaching the highest level of their chosen sport. This is an extension of NUI Galway’s current Elite Athlete Scholarship scheme which includes a subsistence grant, performance supports, gym membership and medical support.

The scheme will award 40 Performance Points to a limited number of athletes, applying for undergraduate courses, who meet strict criteria in a number of identified sports. The points will be added to a minimum requirement of 350 CAO Points from a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate in 6 subjects. The closing date for applications for NUI Galway's Performance Points for athletes is Monday, 31^st March 2014 and the closing date for CAO applications is Thursday, 1 May.

President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne said “NUI Galway has a long and proud tradition of sporting success. Our success has fuelled our ambition. We aim to be leaders in research, innovation and learning and as a university we are proud to support the next generation of elite athletes as their ambition and dedication leads them to sporting success.”

NUI Galway Elite sports officer Gary Ryan said “NUI Galway has produced and supported leaders in sport for many years. The Performance Points Scheme will broaden the horizon of achievement both for NUI Galway and for the athletes themselves, and we have the facilities, structure and supports in place to help athletes achieve their goals, both academic and sporting.”

Robbie Henshaw, member of Ireland's Six Nations squad is a second year arts student. Speaking at the launch of the Performance Points Scheme, he said “Performing at the highest level means you can’t take your eye of the ball, so it’s great to see NUI Galway rewarding elite athletes for their dedication through this scheme. University support like this allows you to concentrate on getting the best results both on and off the pitch.”

Twelve current and former NUI Galway Sports Scholarship students were part of Clare’s 2013 All Ireland winning panel, with other scholarship students enjoying similar levels of success; Des Leonard, World Junior Champion and World Senior Silver medallist in Kickboxing 2011 and 2012; Seamus Hennessy, All-Ireland winner with Tipperary and Rising Star award winner 2010; Niall Burke and Joseph Cooney, Galway All-Ireland Hurling Final 2012; Carol Staunton, Irish Women’s team at the World Rugby Cup in 2010 and many more exceptional athletes.

Applicants will be selected through an application form and interview process. The assessment will be based on sporting achievement and potential as well as evidence of their academic achievement and commitment. The successful candidates will then receive a conditional offer of the 40 performance points in May prior to the Leaving Certificate and CAO changes. Students hoping to study medicine are not currently eligible to receive bonus points under this scheme, but it is being examined in the hope of including it in the future. 

The ‘Performance Points’ athletes will receive similar benefits to those enjoyed by the current NUI Galway Elite Athlete scholarship scheme. Benefits will include a subsistence grant, performance supports, gym membership and medical support. Supports will be provided for the duration of the undergraduate degree of the successful candidates as per the terms and conditions of the NUI Galway athlete’s charter and will be reviewed on an annual basis.

The scheme will only apply to new entrants applying for full-time undergraduate courses at NUI Galway. Applicants must be under 21-years of age on 1st April in the year of application and only sports whose national governing body is recognised by the Irish Sports Council will be considered.

For further details see http://www.sports.nuigalway.ie/scholarships_info.html

ENDS

Cuireann OÉ Gaillimh ‘Pointí Feidhmíochta’ CAO ar fáil do Lúthchleasaithe den scoth

Bronnfar 40 Pointe Feidhmíochta CAO ar 15 sárlúthchleasaí, a chomhlíonann dianchritéir, do chúrsaí fochéime faoi Scéim Scoláireachta nua de chuid OÉ Gaillimh

Tá OÉ Gaillimh chun aitheantas a thabhairt do shárlúthchleasaithe as a scil, am agus dúthracht chun an leibhéal is airde a bhaint amach sa spórt is rogha leo trí 40 Pointe Feidhmíochta CAO a bhronnadh orthu. Is leathnú é seo ar an scéim Scoláireachta reatha atá in OÉ Gaillimh do Shárlúthchleasaithe a áiríonn deontas cothabhála, tacaíochtaí feidhmíochta, ballraíocht sa ghiomnáisiam agus tacaíocht leighis.

Bronnfaidh an scéim 40 Pointe Feidhmíochta ar líon teoranta lúthchleasaithe, a dhéanann iarratas ar chúrsaí fochéime agus a chomhlíonann critéir dhéine i roinnt spóirt ainmnithe. Cuirfear na pointí leis an íosriachtanas 350 Pointe CAO ó shuí aonair den Ardteistiméireacht i sé ábhar. Is é an dáta deiridh a nglacfar le hiarratais do Phointí Feidhmíochta OÉ Gaillimh do lúthchleasaithe Dé Luain, an 31 Márta 2014 agus is é an dáta deiridh d’iarratais CAO Déardaoin, an 1 Bealtaine.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne “Tá traidisiún fada agus láidir spóirt in OÉ Gaillimh. Chuir an rath atá bainte amach againn lenár n-uaillmhian. Tá sé mar aidhm againn a bheith inár gceannairí sa taighde, sa nuálaíocht agus san fhoghlaim agus mar ollscoil táimid bródúil tacú leis an gcéad ghlúin eile de shárlúthchleasaithe agus uaillmhian agus dúthracht á dtreorú chun cinn sa saol spóirt.”

Dúirt Gary Ryan, an tOifigeach Forbartha don Spórt Éilíte in OÉ Gaillimh, “Tá ceannairí sa spórt tagtha chun cinn le tacaíocht ó OÉ Gaillimh le blianta fada. Leathnóidh Scéim na bPointí Feidhmíochta na féidearthachtaí atá ann d’OÉ Gaillimh agus do na lúthchleasaithe iad féin chun éachtaí a bhaint amach. Tá áiseanna, struchtúr agus tacaíochtaí ar fáil againn chun cabhrú le lúthchleasaithe a spriocanna acadúla agus spóirt a bhaint amach.”

Tá Robbie Henshaw, ball de scuad Shé Náisiún na hÉireann, sa dara bliain dá chúrsa sna dána. Ag labhairt dó ag seoladh Scéim na bPointí Feidhmíochta, dúirt sé, “Nuair atá tú ag imirt spóirt ar an leibhéal is airde caithfidh tú a bheith dírithe go hiomlán air, mar sin tá sé iontach a fheiceáil go bhfuil OÉ Gaillimh ag tabhairt aitheantais do shárlúthchleasaithe as a dtiomantas tríd an scéim seo. Tugann tacaíocht Ollscoile mar seo deis duit díriú ar na torthaí is fearr a bhaint amach ar an bpáirc agus sa seomra ranga araon.

Bhí dhá mhac léinn déag a bhfuil nó a raibh Scoláireachtaí Spóirt de chuid OÉ Gaillimh acu mar chuid de phainéal buacach an Chláir in 2013, agus d’éirigh go maith le mic léinn eile a raibh scoláireachtaí acu chomh maith; Des Leonard, Seaimpín Sóisearach an Domhain agus Buaiteoir Boinn Airgid i gCraobh Shinsir an Domhain sa Chosdornáil in 2011 agus in 2012; Seamus Hennessy, foireann bhuacach Thiobraid Árann i gCluiche Ceannais na hÉireann agus buaiteoir an ghradaim Rising Star 2010; Niall Burke agus Joseph Cooney, Foireann na Gaillimhe i gCluiche Ceannais na hÉireann san Iomáint in 2012; Carol Staunton, Foireann Éireannach na mBan ag an gCorn Domhanda Rugbaí in 2010 agus neart lúthchleasaithe eile den scoth.

Roghnófar iarrthóirí ag brath ar an bhfoirm iarratais agus ar an agallamh. Beidh an measúnú bunaithe ar éachtaí spóirt agus ar phoitéinseal chomh maith le fianaise ar éachtaí agus ar thiomantas acadúil. Ansin, gheobhaidh na hiarrthóirí a n-éiríonn leo tairiscint choinníollach 40 pointe feidhmíochta i mí na Bealtaine roimh an Ardteistiméireacht agus roimh an dáta ar féidir athruithe a dhéanamh ar an CAO. Níl mic léinn ar mian leo staidéar a dhéanamh ar leigheas incháilithe le pointí bónais a fháil faoin scéim seo faoi láthair, ach táthar á scrúdú le súil iad a chur san áireamh amach anseo. 

Gheobhaidh lúthcheasaithe na ‘bPointí Feidhmíochta’ sochair cosúil leo siúd atá ar fáil faoin scéim scoláireachta do Shárlúthchleasaithe in OÉ Gaillimh faoi láthair. I measc na sochar tá deontas cothabhála, tacaíochtaí feidhmíochta, ballraíocht sa ghiomnáisiam agus tacaíocht leighis. Cuirfear tacaíocht ar fáil a fhad is atá na hiarrthóirí a n-éiríonn leo i mbun a gcúrsa fochéime mar atá leagtha amach i dtéarmaí agus coinníollacha chairt lúthchleasaithe OÉ Gaillimh agus déanfar athbhreithniú air seo go bliantúil.

Ní bheidh feidhm ag an scéim ach d’iontrálaithe nua atá ag déanamh iarratais ar chúrsaí lánaimseartha fochéime in OÉ Gaillimh. Ní mór d’iarrthóirí a bheith faoi 21 bliain d’aois an 1 Aibreán i mbliain an iarratais agus ní dhéanfar a mheas ach na spóirt sin a bhfuil a gcomhlacht rialaithe náisiúnta aitheanta ag an gComhairle Spóirt.

Tá eolas breise le fáil ar: http://www.sports.nuigalway.ie/scholarships_info.html

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