My MIC Story - Aoife Dillane

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi! My name is Aoife and I’m a third year at MIC Limerick where I’m studying to become a primary school teacher. I’m 22 and from Tralee in Co. Kerry. I’m a recipient of a MIC Elite Sports Scholarship and I play football with Kerry. Before coming to MIC, I attended Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí in Tralee.

Why did you choose MIC?

I chose MIC because I have always wanted to be a primary school teacher. MIC has a wonderful reputation for being a brilliant teacher training college, and with MIC being located in Limerick it’s also nice to be so close to home.

Primary Teaching at MIC was my first choice on my CAO but I actually ended up missing out on this course after my Leaving Cert and was instead offered a place on the BA in Early Childhood Care and Education. I ended up accepting my place on that programme and throughout my first year on the BA in Early Childhood Care and Education the staff in MIC couldn’t have been more helpful in guiding me on the right path to try and transfer to the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching). The following year I received a place on the B Ed, which I was delighted about, and if it wasn’t for the kind help and the facilities that MIC have to offer I would have been lost.

Has it been easy to get to know people and make new friends?

I found since beginning my studies here at MIC that all the people that choose to attend the College are warm, friendly and welcoming people. Moving away from home and starting a new chapter in life can be scary but I found that in MIC there are so many like-minded people who all have a similar ambition and this really helped me in making friends.

The friendly culture that MIC offers lends a hand to everyone making friends. I came from a relatively small secondary school and at first the thought of college seemed really daunting, but with MIC being a smaller college I felt this also really helped me in getting to know so many of my peers.

Living in student accommodation is another great way to meet new people. I found it hard at first living away from home but after a few months I settled into this new life. I really enjoy living with other students, some studying the same course and some studying something else.

How does it feel to be a recipient of a MIC Elite Sports Scholarship?

This is my second year as a recipient of an Elite Sports Scholarship at MIC. It's a massive honour and privilege to represent MIC as a sports scholarship recipient. MIC has a massive sporting culture, and being located in Limerick means the College attracts a huge number of athletes from many different sporting codes, so I am delighted to represent ladies’ football as one of this year’s recipients.

The advice I would give to any current or incoming students thinking of applying is to write down all the attributes that contribute to you being the athlete you are today. When filling out the application on the MIC website, show the path you have been on to get to where you are now in your sporting career.

What do you love about studying at MIC?

There are many elements of the primary teaching programme that I have really enjoyed so far. College isn’t all smooth sailing and there are elements of the programme that can be difficult and require a bit more attention and study, however the good parts of the modules outweigh the tough work.

I really enjoyed my time on placement and getting the opportunity to put into practice all the work done in college has been really rewarding. There were of course tough elements to placement but overall, I left placement knowing this is definitely the career I want to be in.

What do you love about college life?

College comes with a new sense of freedom and responsibility – you’re living away from home and responsible for everything yourself and I really enjoy this about college life. I’ve also really enjoyed getting to know so many new people since moving to college. 

MIC has many clubs and societies to offer in the College and playing college sport of any code is a brilliant way to meet new people when in college. I play football with the MIC ladies football team and have done so since I began here in 2021. We have had great success in recent years and won the Giles cup in 2021.

What do you like do in your spare time?

In my spare time from college, I play football. I play for the Kerry senior ladies and my club Austin Stacks in Tralee. Football has brought me brilliant memories over the last number of years that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. 

Football takes up a lot of my time but any other spare time I do have I enjoy spending it with my friends and family. Being from Kerry I love the beach and miss it while I’m here in Limerick. I also play basketball for the Tralee Warrior ladies’ team and enjoy spending time training with that team as well.

What would you like to do after your graduate?

After I graduate, I hope to get a job in a primary school. I would love to be able to stay and teach in Kerry.

What advice would you give to anyone considering studying at MIC?

The advice I would give is come to Limerick and see the campus for yourself at one of the Open Days. MIC is a small campus but there is so much to do. The small campus means there is a really friendly environment and I think anyone who is thinking of studying here after they visit the campus they’ll be sure it’s the college them.

Looking back to when you were filling in your CAO form and doing your Leaving Cert, what would you say to your younger self?

I was never really a believer in the saying ‘everything happens for a reason’ but looking back, I didn’t get my preferred course after I did my leaving certificate and I was devastated at the time, but now I believe that everything does happen for a reason. I got the course I’ve always wanted, just a year later than I expected. So, I would tell my younger self, everything happens for a reason.

What word would you use to describe MIC?

Community.