TWO Limerick students from Mary Immaculate College (MIC) have been awarded elite sports scholarships.
Hockey player Anna Horan and Limerick U20 hurler Cian Scully were among five people to be awarded with MIC Elite Sports Scholarships, alongside athlete Thomas Devaney, Kerry Ladies Footballer Aoife Dillane, and Mayo Ladies Footballer Sinead Walsh.
MIC’s Elite Sports Scholarship scheme is open to those who have excelled in their chosen sports and, this year, the number of scholarships awarded has increased from two to five for the first time.
The scholarships are tiered, with one Gold recipient, two Silver, and two Bronze recipients. Limerick’s Anna was awarded the Gold scholarship and Cian has been awarded Bronze.
Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President Academic Affairs at MIC, said: “This is the fourth year of this scholarship and the calibre of our sporting ambassadors continues to be outstanding.”
“This year’s talented awardees have proven their sporting excellence at international, national, and inter-county level. They have also committed to achieving academic success here at MIC and balancing the two commitments is no easy task so we are delighted to offer our support to such worthy recipients,” she said.
“I anticipate that these recipients will achieve a lot on and off the pitch and I will be delighted to watch them grow as scholars and as sportspeople.”
Anna Horan is a third year Bachelor of Education student and was awarded the Gold scholarship in recognition of her success at hockey for both club and country.
She represented Cresent College while she was a student there, and went on to represent Ireland at under 18 and under 21 levels.
Anna said: “I am delighted and so grateful to be awarded this scholarship. For me it’s going to be a great help financially and its also going to allow me to continue my training while I’m in college. Sport is a huge part of my life and has allowed me to make new friends and travel the country and internationally.”
“The financial supports of this scholarship will be huge for me, especially with hockey with the equipment that you use and also the amount of travel around Ireland that’s involved,” she said.
Cian Scully from Banogue is a first year Bachelor of Education student and was awarded the bronze scholarship in regognition of the fact that he won an under 20 Munster hurling final, and also led his club team, Dromin/Athlacca to an under 19B county championship title.
Cian said: “I am more than delighted to be an MIC Elite Sports Scholar for the year. The financial benefits will allow me to work to be the best athlete and student teacher I can be, while helping the with the financial burden of college life.”
“It is great to know I have support from the college during a hectic period sport and student life,” he concluded.
