Elite Sports Scholarships

Applications for MIC Elite Sports Scholarship Scheme 2025-26 are now open.

One Gold Scholarship valued at €4,000 (applications invited from current and incoming undergraduate and postgraduate students)
Two Silver Scholarships valued at €2,000 each (applications invited from current and incoming undergraduate and postgraduate students)
Two Bronze Scholarships valued at €1,000 each (applications restricted to incoming CAO applicants only)

Criteria

The following minimum standards of participation will apply to this scholarship scheme.

• Gaelic Games: Minor County level and capable of competing at a higher age level
• Hockey: Interprovincial/International representation
• Athletics: Schools/Celtic Games or Junior international representation
• Rugby: Schools/age grade international, provincial and/or international representation/provincial academy/Sub-Academy/Overseas or UK equivalent
• Soccer: Schools/age grade international and/or provincial representation/emerging talent programme/Overseas or UK equivalent
• Basketball: Super League Level and/or National Junior squad representation
• Rowing: Junior national representation
• Other Sports: As defined by the recognised sporting body and evidence of a strong competitive record at the highest level of their chosen sport.

To be considered eligible for the Elite scholarships applicants must clearly demonstrate that they have the potential to, or are already, performing at Adult Inter County level with respect to Gaelic games; Adult International or achieved the highest level of participation within the sport category.

Please note: Students in receipt of a Postgraduate Studentship/ Assistantship are ineligible to apply.

How to Apply

Applications for MIC Elite Sports Scholarship Scheme 2025-26 are now open.
 

Undergraduate Applicants

Incoming undergraduate applicants apply for their programme of choice as normal through the CAO. Applicants will then also apply directly to MIC for the scheme(s) via the English Application Form, or Irish Application Form, depending on the applicants preference.

Postgraduate Applicants and current MIC Students

Incoming postgraduate applicants and current MIC students apply directly to MIC via the English Application Form, or Irish Application Form, depending on the applicants preference, quoting their application reference number/student number as applicable.

Deadline for receipt of applications is 1 May 2025.

Please read the Terms and Conditions section carefully before completing the application form.

All awardees are expected to act as ambassadors for MIC in terms of their participation in their chosen sport or other activities as requested by the College for the duration of the scholarship.

Successful applicants may apply for successive years.

Canvassing will automatically disqualify applicants.

Applicants may apply for both this scholarship scheme and the CAO Points Concession Sports Scheme.

Please note: MIC is required to disclose to SUSI, all funding provided by the college to students that have applied for a SUSI grant. Depending on the type of funding granted to students by the college, SUSI may include it as reckonable income in their determination of SUSI grants.

Please refer to MIC Sports Schemes Terms & Conditions/ Scéimeanna Spóirt Téarmaí agus Coinníollacha before completing the application.

MIC is offering two types of Sport Schemes:

1. Elite Sports Scholarships in memory of Noreen Lynch and Leonard Enright

MIC will offer five Elite Sports Scholarships. The value of each scholarship will be delivered through a conditional bursary and additional benefits as follows:

• Gold Scholarship x 1: Valued at €4,000 (€180 gym, €120 sports clothing & €3,700 towards MIC student debt (fees/accommodation) in the first instance and remainder paid out by bursary. Open to all applicants.
• Silver Scholarship x 2: Valued at €2,000 each (€180 gym, €120 sports clothing & €1,700 towards MIC student debt (fees/accommodation) in the first instance and remainder paid out by bursary. Open to all applicants.
• Bronze Scholarship x 2: Valued at €1000 each (€180 gym, €120 sports clothing & €700 towards MIC student debt (fees/accommodation) in the first instance and remainder paid out by bursary. Restricted to incoming CAO applicants only.

The value of the gym & sport clothing cannot be converted to a monetary award.

Successful applicants must meet the Sports Assessment Criteria as outlined below.

The duration of the Elite Sports Scholarship is for one Academic Year only. However, successful applicants may apply for successive years.

Students in receipt of a Postgraduate Studentship / Assistantship are ineligible to apply for the Elite Sports Scholarships.

Application Procedure Elite Sports Scholarships

To be considered for the Elite Sports Scholarships the following procedures apply:

Incoming Undergraduate Applicants:

• Should apply for their programme of choice as normal through the CAO
• Should apply directly to MIC for these scholarships via the online application form, quoting their CAO Number
• Must meet the Sports Assessment Criteria (see below).

Incoming Postgraduate Applicants and Current MIC Students:

• Should apply directly to MIC via the online application form, quoting their quoting their postgraduate application payment reference ID number or MIC student number as applicable
• Must meet the Sports Assessment Criteria (see Sports Assessment Criteria below)

2. CAO Points Concession Sports Scheme

Successful applicants who meet all the necessary entry requirements, and also meet the Sports Assessment Criteria (see below), may be awarded a points reduction of up to 40 points below the Round One CAO points cut-off for their selected programme of study.

Application Procedure CAO points Concession Scheme

To be considered for this entry scheme, applicants must:

• Have applied for a programme of their choice at MIC through the CAO
• Meet the minimum entry requirements of their desired Level 8 programme
• Come within 40 points of Round One CAO points for their nominated programme
• Apply directly to MIC for these scholarships via the online application form, quoting their CAO number

Sports Assessment Criteria

The following minimum standards of participation will apply to both schemes:

• Gaelic Games: Minor County level and capable of competing at a higher age level
• Hockey: Interprovincial/International representation
• Athletics: Schools/Celtic Games or Junior international representation
• Rugby: Schools/age grade, international, provincial and/or international representation/provincial academy/Sub-Academy/Overseas or UK equivalent
• Soccer: Schools/age grade international and/or provincial representation/emerging talent programme/Overseas or UK equivalent
• Basketball: Super League Level and/or National Junior squad representation
• Rowing: Junior national representation
• Other Sports: As defined by the recognised sporting body

Those applying to the Elite Sports Scholarship must clearly demonstrate that they have the potential to, or are already, performing at Adult Inter County level with respect to Gaelic games; Adult International or achieved the highest level of participation within the sport category.

Criteria for MIC Sports Schemes

1. Applicants may apply for both schemes (you will indicate on the online application form if you are applying for one or both schemes)
2. All awardees are expected to act as ambassadors for MIC in terms of their participation in their chosen sport or other activities as requested by the College for the duration of the scheme.
3. All awardees must display at all times an appropriate standard of conduct and sportsmanship. Awardees shall never engage in any activity, which may potentially bring the College into disrepute. MIC retains the right to withdraw the award should the recipient be in breach of the MIC Code of Conduct for Students.
4. In the event that the successful applicant(s) is/are injured in the year for which the award is offered, the recipient will be required to complete all ambassadorial duties at a later date.
5. The successful applicant(s) is/are expected to attend and represent MIC at a minimum of three promotional events in the year the award is granted.

Adjudication Process

MIC Sport Schemes MIC has a dedicated Sports Scholarship Committee who will consider and oversee the application process for both the CAO Concession Scheme and the Elite Sports Scholarships. The decision of the Committee is final. Canvassing will lead to disqualification.

Adjudication Process CAO Points Concession Sports Scheme

• The Committee will review all applications and create a shortlist of suitable applicants for both schemes following the application deadline of 1 May.  
• All applicants for the CAO Points Concession Sports Scheme shall be notified of the outcome of their application before 1 July.

Adjudication Process Elite Sports Scholarships

• The Committee will review all applications and create a shortlist of suitable applicants who will be invited for interview following the application deadline of 1 May.
• Interviews for the Elite Sports Scholarships will take place in mid-July.
• A letter of offer will be forwarded to successful applicants of the Elite Sports Scholarships following the interviews.

In its fifth year, MIC’s Elite Sports Scholarships have been awarded to five students in recognition of their outstanding sporting achievements. 

Kerry Senior Ladies Footballer Aoife Dillane, is this year’s Gold Scholarship recipient, while Clare Senior Hurler, Shane Meehan and Clara Barrett of Ireland Women’s Rugby, have been awarded Silver Scholarships. They are joined by Laois Ladies Footballer Katie Donoghue and Clare Under 20s Hurler, Ronan O’Connor, who were awarded Bronze Scholarships.

Aoife Dillane

Aoife Dillane, who is a Third Year Bachelor of Education student at MIC was awarded the Gold Sports Scholarship. This is the second year Aoife, from Tralee, has received the scholarship; she was awarded a Silver Scholarship in 2023. She was a member of Kerry’s All Ireland-winning Senior Ladies Football team in 2024—playing a key role in defeating Galway in a thrilling encounter to help Kerry to a 12th championship win in that code. Winning the Brendan Martin Cup was the culmination of an excellent year for the team, which also won a Munster title and were close runners-up in the Ladies National Football League Division 1 final with Armagh. She has represented her county in Ladies Football since U14 grade and was called up to the Senior squad in 2021. She has won a Division 2 National League medal in 2022 and Division 1 medal in 2023, as well as playing in the Senior Ladies All Ireland Football finals in 2022 and 2023, where Kerry was the runner-up. She plays at club level with Austin Stacks in Kerry, where she won an Intermediate Kerry County Championship in 2017. Aoife was an integral part of MIC’s Giles Cup winning team of 2022 and captained MIC's O'Connor Cup squad in 2023. 

Shane Meehan

2024 Clare Senior All-Ireland Hurling champion Shane Meehan has been awarded a Silver Sports scholarship. A Fourth Year Bachelor of Education student at MIC, Shane made his debut on the inter-county scene with the Clare minor hurling and football teams in 2018. Captaining the Clare footballers the following year, Meehan’s talents also shone as Clare’s minor hurling top scorer, showcasing his skills as a dual player. Munster Footballer of the Year in 2019, that year also saw Meehan make history for his hurling club, as the first Banner player to be named on Electric Ireland’s Minor Hurling Team of the Year. Going on to choose the small ball for his senior career, 2024 has been a year of sporting achievements for Shane, returning the Fitzgibbon Cup to MIC as part of the winning team in February, closely followed by a win on the Croke Park stage in July 2024, where he came on as a substitute as Clare took home their first All-Ireland in 11 years in an extra-time win against Cork. 

Clara Barrett

Third Year Bachelor of Education student and Ireland Women’s rugby player, Clara Barrett has been awarded a Silver Sports Scholarship. From a small village in Geesala, Co. Mayo, where there was no rugby club, her career began at the young age of 10, on the nearby team, Erris Rugby. Playing with mostly boys and only a handful of girls, her passion for rugby took flight at U12/U14 level, when she joined the Ballina girls’ team. From there she played for Connacht and Irish U18 squads. A rising star, Clara made her first appearance on the Connacht Senior team in 2023 and plays her club rugby with UL Bohemians. She was subsequently named in the Ireland Combined Provinces squad and in the Irish U20 squad before being called up for the Irish Senior Women’s squad. She is now on the Irish 7s development pathway. 

Ronan O'Connor

Clare U20 hurling captain and First Year Bachelor of Education student at MIC, Ronan O’Connor has been awarded a Bronze Sports Scholarship. An accomplished young hurler with an impressive track record, Ronan captained the 2022 winning Harty Cup team with St Joseph’s Tulla, claiming Man on the Match in the final. Previously playing with the Clare minor team (2019/2020), he captained the Clare U20 team in 2024. Amongst his other accolades are: reaching the All-Ireland Final and winning a League title with UL freshers in 2023. Ronan was a member of the Feakle senior hurling team which recently bested Sixmilebridge 1-17 to 0-13 to win its first county championship in 36 years. 

Katie Donoghue

First Year Bachelor of Education student at MIC and Laois Senior Ladies footballer, Katie Donoghue, has been awarded a Bronze Sports Scholarship. Demonstrating an impressive Ladies Football career from a young age, Katie made her Laois senior debut in 2023, scoring 2-1 as a corner forward in her first All-Ireland series appearance vs Armagh. Katie has already made significant contributions in her sporting career, playing at U16 county level, where she captained the winning Leinster B team in 2021, to minor club and county, senior club and senior county level. She went on to captain her school’s senior team and being named Club Player of the Year at minor level for Timahoe Ladies.

Five undergraduate students have been awarded MIC Elite Sports Scholarships in recognition of their sporting abilities.

Irish hockey player Anna Horan is the recipient of this year’s Gold Scholarship, with Irish athlete Thomas Devaney and Kerry Ladies footballer Aoife Dillane awarded Silver Scholarships, while Limerick U20 hurler Cian Scully and Mayo Ladies Footballer Sinéad Walsh were awarded Bronze Scholarships. The scholarships are offered in memory of former MIC staff members and sporting stalwarts, the late Noreen Lynch and Leonard Enright.

Anna Horan

Third year Bachelor of Education (B Ed) student, Anna Horan is the recipient of this year’s Gold Elite Sports Scholarship in recognition of her success at hockey for both club and country. The Limerick native represented Crescent College while a student there and captained the team during its 2019 Kate Russell title win. At club level, Anna plays for the City’s Catholic Institute club, which she helped to guide to an Irish Senior Cup title in 2022 and the runners-up spot earlier this year. Following the Irish title win, Catholic Institute made its European Club competition debut, where Anna scored the winning goal in their 1-0 win over Austrian side Akademischer. She represented Ireland at the Junior World Cup in South Africa in April 2022, before Captaining Ireland’s U21 squad who competed in the U21 Eurohockey Junior Championship in Belgium in July last year. Having represented her country at U18 grade while still in secondary school, Anna’s talents attracted international attention and she spent a year at the University of Connecticut on a sports scholarship playing for its hockey team.

Thomas Devaney

This is the second year that fourth year B Ed student, Thomas Devaney, received an Elite Sports Scholarship from MIC. Thomas, who is from Islandeady in Co. Mayo, has won medals in athletics for his local club Castlebar AC, at third level with UL Wolves in Limerick, and at European level representing Ireland. Thomas was a key member of the gold medal winning six-man Irish team in the 8,000m team event at the European Cross-Country Championships in December 2021. At 19, this win was even more impressive as Thomas was the race’s youngest qualifier. Also, in 2021, Thomas placed second in the 5,000m race at the Irish U23 Athletics Championships before again taking silver at the event in 2022. In January 2022, he was a member of the Irish U23 team that took gold at the Celtic Cross Country before going on to set two records at the Irish Universities Athletics Association Outdoor Championships in April as he took gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

Aoife Dillane

Aoife Dillane, who is a second year B Ed student at MIC was also awarded a Silver Sports Scholarship. Aoife is from Tralee and plays at club level with Austin Stacks in Kerry, where she won an Intermediate Kerry County Championship in 2017. She has represented her county in Ladies Football since U14 grade and was called up to the Senior squad in 2021. She has won a Division 2 National League medal in 2022 and Division 1 medal in 2023, as well as playing in the Senior Ladies All Ireland Football finals in 2022 and 2023, where Kerry was the runner-up. Aoife was an integral part of MIC’s Giles Cup winning team of 2022 and is this year's captain of MIC's O'Connor Cup squad.

Cian Scully

Cian Scully, a first year B Ed student, is from Banogue in Co. Limerick and was awarded a Bronze Sports Scholarship. He plays for his County’s U20 hurling team, having previously served as Captain of the Treaty’s Minor hurlers in 2021. Cian played at half back for the county’s U20s side which won the Munster final in May 2022 before falling a point short in the All-Ireland decider later in the Championship. At club level, Cian was instrumental in two campaigns for Dromin Athlacca as he captained the team to an U19B County Championship title before later scoring 0-13 of his side’s 0-19 to 2-9 win over Knockaderry in the U21 County Championship decider. A graduate of Limerick’s Ard Scoil Rís, Cian was the team’s centre-back as they won the Croke Cup and finished as runners-up in the Harty Cup in 2022.

Sinéad Walsh

The second Bronze awardee, Sinéad Walsh, a first year B Ed student, is from Lahardane in Co. Mayo. Sinéad has represented her county in Ladies Football since an early age and first tasted success when she was vice-captain in Mayo’s All Ireland winning U14 footballers in 2017. Sinéad helped Mayo to Connacht finals in 2018 and 2019 at U16 level and in 2021 at Minor level. She made her debut with the Senior Ladies team in 2022 where she scored 4-6 during its League Campaign and later scored 1-8 during the Championship, when Mayo reached the All-Ireland semi-final stages. She scored 3-6 in the 2023 League campaign before scoring 2-7 in the Championship, including a Player of the Match performance against Laois, as Mayo again reached the last four. At club level, Sinead plays for Machale Rovers and was a member of the team that reached the 2020 Intermediate County finals in 2020, and won the Mayo Club Minor Championship in 2021.

Irish Cross-Country athlete Thomas Devaney and Cork Camogie star Clíona Healy have been announced as the recipients of the 2022 MIC Elite Sports Scholarships.

Thomas Devaney

MIC Primary Teaching student Thomas Devaney, who is from Islandeady in Co. Mayo, has won medals in athletics for his local club Castlebar AC, at third level with UL Wolves in Limerick, and at European level representing Ireland. Thomas was a key member of the gold medal winning six-man Irish team in the 8,000m team event at the European Cross-Country Championships in December 2021. At 19 this win was even more impressive as Thomas was the race’s youngest qualifier. Also in 2021, Thomas placed second in the 5,000m race at the Irish U23 Athletics Championships before again taking silver at the event in 2022. In January 2022 he was a member of the Irish U23 team that took gold at the Celtic Cross Country before going on to set two records at the Irish Universities Athletics Association Outdoor Championships in April as he took gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

Clíona Healy

Cork camogie star Clíona Healy is a final year Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) student. The Aghabullogue native most recently delivered a Player of the Match performance and scored the winning point in the Cork Intermediate Camogie Championship final, where she hit 1-11 in total to clinch the title and secured the side Senior status for next year’s campaign. Nationally, she’s known for her exploits on the 2022, 2021 and 2019 Munster Senior Camogie winning Cork team, and has also won medals at Intermediate All-Ireland and Munster level in 2018, in addition to a Minor All-Ireland title in the same year. Her roll of honour at club level includes two Minor B medals as well several Cork Féile na Gael wins in 2013 and 2014. Clíona also captained Coachford College Secondary School to a Munster Senior A League win in 2019, as well as playing an important role in the panel that won the title in 2016.

Scholarship Recipients 2021-22

Róisín Howard

Róisín Howard (PME) from Cahir in Tipperary. This is the second year that Roisin has been selected as an MIC Elite Sports Scholar, in recognition of her dedication to and success in Gaelic Games with both club and county. Roisin, who is a second year Professional Master's of Education (PME) student at MIC, has won All-Ireland Championships in both Gaelic Football and Camogie for the Premier County.

Dessie Hutchinson

Dessie Hutchinson (BA in Education, Business Studies and Religious Studies, MIC Thurles): Waterford hurling star Dessie Hutchinson is the second recipient of the MIC Elite Sports Scholarship in recognition of his influential role with both club and county. The Ballygunner clubman is this year celebrating a third consecutive County Hurling title, with a total personal scoring tally of 12-73 over the three campaigns. He was also chosen as Man of the Match in two of the three finals. A key member of the Waterford Senior Hurling side, Hutchinson made his debut on the panel in 2020 and guided them to a final appearance against eventual winners Limerick.

Scholarship Recipients 2020-21

Roisin Howard

Roisin Howard, from Cahir, has won All-Ireland Championships in both Gaelic Football and Camogie with Tipperary. She has also guided her club to several County Football titles, including being named Player of the Match for the 2020 Tipperary Senior Ladies Football final. She has excelled in third level sport too and is the holder of four Ashbourne Cup Medals and two O'Connor Cup Medals. In 2019 she was a HEC Ladies Football All-Star and an All-Ireland and Munster Intermediate Football Champion with Tipperary. She continues as a dual player with her county and recently embarked upon the PME (Primary Teaching programme) at Mary Immaculate College. Roisin was awarded the Scholarship again in the 2021/22 academic year.

Clara Griffin

Clara Griffin, third year Bachelor of Education student at MIC, was recognised for her success in Camogie at club, intercounty and provincial levels. Now a Senior County Camogie player, Clara has been involved with Waterford’s underage set-up since the age of 13 and is also a key member of her local Tramore Camogie Club. She holds three All-Ireland medals from her time playing underage for Waterford and most recently helped the County Minor Camogie team to victory over Cork in the 2018 Munster Championship Final in 2018; the first ever win for Waterford at that level. At club level, Clara guided Tramore to the Intermediate County title in 2019 which saw her awarded Tramore’s Overall Club Player of the Year, beating rivals from all levels of male and female club activity in the Déise. She has also represented Munster in provincial Camogie.

Our sports scholarships are named in memory of MIC staff members, Noreen Lynch and Leonard Enright.

Noreen Lynch joined Mary Immaculate College as a lecturer in Physical Education in the early 70s and during her 35 year career with MIC she established and coordinated all of the sport and recreation programmes at the College. Noreen helped to establish the O’Connor Cup, the Ladies Football equivalent to the Fitzgibbon Cup, which was inaugurated in 1987. She was also involved in the establishment of national Third Level Ladies’ football competitions in the mid-1980s; indeed the Lynch Cup, inaugurated in 1992, is named after her.

Leonard Enright was a member of the Maintenance & Buildings Services Team at MIC for over 22 years. Leonard played with the Limerick Senior Hurling team from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. Part of the Limerick panel in the 1973 All-Ireland final, Leonard won Munster titles in 1980 and 1981 and League titles in 1984 and 1985. He was the All-Star full-back in 1980, 1981 and 1983. Leonard was inducted into the GAA Hall of Fame in August 2018.