Sports Office

MIC's Tailteann Sports Complex caters for a wide variety of sports including; Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, basketball, rugby, soccer and badminton to name a few. We also have an award-winning, state-of-the-art, multipurpose sports complex, comprising of one large sports hall, two studios/teaching gyms, basketball courts, indoor soccer courts, badminton courts and weights room. Our outdoor facilities include; a GAA pitch and an all-weather floodlit training pitch and running track. MIC, St Patrick's Campus, Thurles also has a GAA pitch.

Physical Education classes within the Bachelor of Education, Professional Master's in Education and BA in Early Childhood Care & Education programmes take place in Tailteann.

MIC also has a proud sporting history. Students and alumni have represented county and country in various sports including GAA, rugby, athletics, handball, soccer, rowing and more. MIC has various levels of teams participating in Gaelic games, rugby, soccer and basketball that compete in inter-varsity leagues and tournaments including the Fitzgibbon Cup, the Freshers' Cup (hurling, football, ladies football and camogie), the Trench Cup, the Giles Cup, the Ashbourne Cup and the Collingwood Cup, the Fergal Maher Cup, the Purcell Cup, the Corn Comhairle Ardoideachais, the Ó Maolagáin Cup and the Lagan Cup. Game fixtures and results will be listed on our MIC Sport Facebook page and on the MIC screens around campus.

There are a number of fitness classes available throughout the academic year, depending on demand these may include Pilates, Taekwondo, Zumba, Total Body Workout and Yoga.

For further information on sports see the College Sport section here, and for more information about our class schedules and prices, please see our MIC Sport Facebook page.

​​​​​Sports facilities at MIC include:

• Full-size GAA pitch (both campuses)
• Floodlit training pitch
• 460 metre all-weather running track
• Weights room
• One large sports hall (TN3-900m²) which can be set up as: two indoor soccer courts; an IBA approved basketball court; six badminton courts
• Table tennis facilities
• Two teaching gyms (T1-299m² / T2-322 m²) which can be used as studios for dance, aerobics etc.
• Showers and changing rooms

Tailteann Bookings

The rooms in Tailteann can also be booked by sports clubs for training or by students or staff who wish to use the facilities. Bookings can be made by contacting Tailteann Reception, Email: Tailteann.Reception@mic.ul.ie, where you can also make enquiries about classes and courses. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on Ext. 4306.

Weights Room

The weights room is available to students and staff.

Prior to using the weights room, an induction session must be completed. Induction appointments are organised at the start of each semester. Contact Tailteann Reception to arrange an appointment.

Rates

Students

• 1 Session - €2
• 1 Week Access - €5
• Semester Access - €60

Staff

• 1 Session - €3
• 1 Week Access - €7
• Semester Access - €90

Students can compete in intervarsity competitions or at recreational level. Being involved in sport gives students the opportunity to develop friendships and to enjoy the social side of college life. We would encourage all students to take part in sport and recreational activities during their time here.

Badminton

Six badminton courts are available in Tailteann. There is a badminton club on campus, please contact MISU for further information.

Basketball

Basketball can be played at competitive or recreational level. MIC’s ladies team competes in the Colleges’ All-Ireland League. In 2017, they won the Division 2 All-Ireland League final.

Camogie

MIC has won the Purcell Cup six times since its inauguration in 1977. We compete in the Division 1 league and Ashbourne Cup, reaching the semi-final in 2022. MIC has an intermediate camogie team and won the Intermediate Championship in 2015. The Freshers camogie team won the 2015/2016 All-Ireland blitz. The MIC Thurles camogie team competes in the Ó Maolagáin Cup. 

Fitness Classes

There are a number of fitness classes running in Tailteann throughout the academic year. Depending on demand these may include Pilates, Taekwondo, Zumba, Total Body Workout, and Yoga. For further information on our class schedules and prices, please call to Tailteann Reception, or see MIC Sport Facebook.

Gaelic Football

The MIC football team won the Trench Cup in 2018.  Our Freshers football team have won the Division 2 Championship three times and have also won the Division 2 League twice. The College's junior football team reached the Munster Final in 2022. The MIC Thurles football team competes in the Corn Comhairle Ardoideachais.

Hurling

Over the last 10 years MIC have played in the Fitzgibbon Cup final and won twice. History was made in 2016 when its Senior Hurling team beat UL in an epic final to secure the Fitzgibbon Cup for the first time ever. In 2017, MIC were victorious for a second time in a row, defeating IT Carlow in the final – a remarkable achievement for a college with a population of approx. 5,000 students. There are many players who have played for MIC and have gone on to successful careers on inter-county teams. MIC’s Fresher hurling team compete in Division 1. The College also has an intermediate hurling team which won the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling College Championship. The current coach, Jamie Wall played in the 2013 Fitzgibbon Cup final with MIC and coached the 2017 team to victory. The MIC Thurles hurling team competes in the Fergal Maher Cup.

Jogging/Walking

One of the most utilised sports facilities in the College is the walking track around the GAA pitch. This is a 460m all-weather track and is used by students, staff, visitors and locals for jogging and walking.

Ladies Football

The College fields two ladies football teams. The College has won the Giles Cup three times in the past 10 years. In 2022 MIC won the Giles Cup and will be playing in the O'Connor Cup in 2023. Our second team competes in the Division 4 League and Moynihan Cup each year. MIC also takes part in the National Freshers Blitz annually. MIC lecturers, Richard Bowles and Anne O’Dwyer coach the ladies football teams. Players of all standards are very welcome. We also encourage players to develop their own coaching skills through the organisation of blitzes involving local primary schools. The MIC Thurles ladies football team competes in the Lagan Cup.

Rugby

The men’s rugby team is a relatively new team in the College.  They competed for the first time in the Colleges League in 2016, and won the Tier 2 All-Ireland final in 2017.

Soccer

The senior men’s soccer team compete in the Collingwood Cup. The ladies soccer team compete in their respective intervarsity leagues and championships.

Table Tennis

There are four tables available in Tailteann. Bats and balls are available at Tailteann Reception.

Weights Room

There is a fully-fitted weights room in Tailteann, equipped with treadmills, cross-trainers, bikes, rowing machine, weights machines, and free weights. Contact Tailteann Reception for more information and to book an induction session.

MIC is committed to giving access to GAA coach education courses to all students in the college. Courses are available at foundation and advanced levels. Details of Gaelic sports, teams, bursaries and the coach education programme are available from Joe Redington and on the screens located around the campus.

MIC Elite Sports Scholarships

Two elite scholarships, in memory of former MIC staff members Noreen Lynch and Leonard Enright, are available for those who have excelled in their chosen sport(s). The value of each scholarship is up to €4,000 and is delivered through a bursary and additional benefits. These scholarships are open to incoming applicants in addition to current undergraduate and postgraduate students across both Limerick and Thurles campuses.

Deadline for receipt of applications is 1 May (on year of entry).

Details on how to apply available for Elite Sports Scholarships here.

MIC CAO Points Concession Scheme

MIC’s CAO Points Concession Sports Scheme is an academic entry scheme for performance athletes applying for a full-time Level 8 Undergraduate programme at MIC Limerick or Thurles. Up to 10 places across all undergraduate programmes will be reserved for outstanding applicants who have achieved a very high level of sporting performance and who are committed to continuing to develop their sporting and academic careers.

Deadline for receipt of applications is 1 May (on year of entry).

Details on how to apply for CAO Points Concession Scheme here.

MIC GPA Scholarships

The MIC GPA Scholarship Scheme is open to GPA members only who have applied for and are successful in securing a place on MIC’s postgraduate programmes in education and the liberal arts. Two scholarships will be offered on an annual basis with at least one being awarded to a female player. MIC will contribute 50% of the programme fee to a maximum of €2,300 with the GPA contributing the remaining 50% of the programme fee to a maximum of €2300. If the programme fee is higher than €4,600 then the successful applicant will be liable for any shortfall that may exist. The successful MIC GPA Scholars will play an active role on MIC’s football, camogie or hurling teams and will act as ambassadors for their sport within the College community.

Interested applications can inquire about the scheme and make their initial scholarship application by submitting their CV and cover letter, Email: PostgradScholarships@gaelicplayers.com

Deadline for receipt of completed programme applications is 30 June.

Eligible scholarship applicants apply to their programme of choice at MIC through the normal procedures. Click here for full list of MIC postgraduate programmes.

MIC GAA Bursaries

GAA Bursaries, valued at €750, are awarded on an annual basis in recognition of sporting achievements of male and female students within the arena of intervarsity, club, county and regional Gaelic Games. For further information on how to apply, Email: Joe.Redington@mic.ul.ie, Gaelic Games Development Administrator.

Rachel Kenneally Memorial Award

Munster LGFA funds three bursaries valued at €750 each, on an annual basis in memory of Rachel Kenneally, a B Ed graduate of MIC (Class of 2013). Rachel was a member of the College team that won the Giles Cup in 2012 and also played inter-county football with Tipperary. She passed away after a long illness in March 2018.

The bursaries are awarded to current MIC students, undergraduate and full-time postgraduate, who are involved in ladies football in Munster (playing, coaching, administration etc).