MIC GPA Scholarship Scheme

The GPA is dedicated to the personal and professional development of male and female inter-county players. The ethos of the GPA is all about people and potential. In a fundamental way the GPA goals and aspirations match those of Mary Immaculate College (MIC) – to be a development partner with its students.

The MIC GPA Scholarship builds on the on the track-record of the organisations in promoting sport and education. It constitutes the development of a relationship between the GPA and MIC, culminating in the award of MIC/GPA scholarships for each of the following academic years: 2021/2022, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.

• MIC agrees to make available to members of the GPA (male and female) two postgraduate scholarships per annum for an initial period of three years.
• The scheme will be referred to as the MIC GPA Scholarship Scheme and successful applicants will be referred to as MIC/GPA Scholars.
• The value of each scholarship will be up to €5,000 for one year only and will be delivered through a full or partial fee waiver as applicable.
• MIC will contribute 50% of the programme fee to a maximum of €2,500 with the GPA contributing the remaining 50% of the programme fee to a maximum of €2500. If the programme fee is higher than €5,000 then the successful applicant will be liable for any shortfall that may exist.
• The duration of the MIC GPA 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 MIC GPA Scholarships.
• This scheme is applicable to all Postgraduate Programmes as currently offered by MIC subject to the programme running that year and all the necessary entry requirements being met. See full list of MIC postgraduate programmes.
• It is desired that the scholarships will be awarded to one (1) male and one (1) female applicant.
• Scholarships will be awarded based on merit. All applications will be assessed using a set of criteria as pre-agreed between MIC and the GPA.
• The scholarship candidates will be nominated by the GPA and the names communicated in writing to MIC. On nomination, the candidates will apply through the normal academic application procedure of MIC. Once the application procedure has been completed, MIC will inform the candidates of their success or otherwise in meeting the entry criteria for the programme of their choice. MIC will inform the GPA that the candidate has accepted the place on the programme.
• MIC will inform the GPA of who has been awarded a scholarship in advance of informing the successful candidate(s).

Closing date for applications is 25 July 2025.

• MIC will inform the successful candidate(s) that they have been awarded an MIC GPA scholarship for the forthcoming academic year and confirm to the GPA when the candidate has accepted their offer(s) of a place.
• Once accepted the scholarship cannot be deferred for another year.
• Once registered onto the programme, the student will be subject to the rules and regulation of MIC.

The GPA will assist in the promotion of MIC and the suite of programmes on offer to their members in the following ways:

• Engage in an annual launch of the scholarship programme, including using their network of contacts to build national and local media presence at this launch.
• Actively promote MIC/GPA scholarships to their membership through their suite of communications channels.
• Ensure that the MIC Logo is included on all GPA promotional material relating to GPA scholarships.
• Include representatives of MIC in scholarship related network events that the GPA operate.
• Provide guest speakers on a regular basis for business/sports seminar events that MIC GAA run.

The MIC GPA Scholar(s) will be expected to contribute to MIC in the following ways:

• Actively participate in MIC GAA, LGFA or Camogie club.
• Perform ambassadorial duties as deemed appropriate.

Interested applicants should contact Brian Howard, GPA at Brian.Howard@gaelicplayers.com.

Waterford Senior Camogie Player, Niamh Murphy and Galway Senior Hurler, Eoin Lawless, have been announced as the recipients of the 2024 MIC Gaelic Players Association (GPA) Scholarship.

This is the second year that Niamh has been awarded the scholarship and she is in her second year of the Professional Master of Education (PME) – Primary Teaching programme at MIC. Niamh graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology, microbiology and pharmacology before deciding to follow her dream of becoming a Primary School teacher. Niamh is a Waterford Senior Camogie player and won a Division 1B National Camogie League medal and reached the final of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship with the Déise this year. Niamh has represented her county on the pitch since she was 12 and holds three All Ireland Championship medals with Waterford at U14 and U16 level and a Munster and All Ireland medal with St Angela’s School in 2018. Niamh is a member of the De La Salle club in Waterford and holds Junior and Intermediate County Medals in 2015, 2016 and senior county medals 2022 and 2023. Niamh is also a Purcell Cup winner with UCD and hopes to continue her third level success with MIC’s camogie team. Outside her playing career, Niamh has coached underage teams for both club and county and is a national referee.

Eoin, from Athenry, is a First Year Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) student, having graduated from the University of Galway with a Bachelor of Arts degree. The full-back made his debut with the Galway Senior hurlers in 2023 but was already seasoned at county level—playing for Galway’s Under 20s team and on the minor team that won back-to-back All Ireland Minor Hurling Championships in 2018 and 2019. In the latter year, he was included in the Minor Team of the Year. At his alma mater, he played on the Fitzgibbon Cup team that reached the final in 2022 and 2023. Eoin was included in the 2024 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Hurling Rising Stars Team of the Year. At club level, he plays with St Mary’s in Athenry and won a Galway Under-21 A Hurling Championship with the club in 2019. He began his hurling career with Presentation College, Athenry and was member of his school’s team that won consecutive Connacht Colleges SAHC titles in 2018 and 2019. 

Clare Senior Hurler Diarmuid Ryan and Waterford Camogie Player Niamh Murphy have been announced as the recipients of the 2023 MIC GPA Scholarships.

It’s the second year that Diarmuid has been awarded the scholarship. He is a second year Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) student having earlier graduated from MIC with a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Cratloe clubman has represented Clare’s hurlers since 2017 and has been nominated for two All-Star awards in the past two years for his contribution to a Clare side that reached the All Ireland semi-finals in 2022 and 2023. He scored the match winning point against Cork earlier this year to secure Clare’s place in the Munster final in a performance which saw him voted GAA/GPA Player of the Month for May. Diarmuid is a key player for Cratloe’s hurling and football teams. He was on the scoresheet as Cratloe won the Clare Senior Football Championship in October. Diarmuid also represents MIC’s hurlers and is Captain of the College’s Fitzgibbon team. He attended Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís Secondary School and was Vice-Captain of the Harty Cup winning team in 2018.

Niamh graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology, microbiology and pharmacology before deciding to follow her dream of becoming a Primary School teacher and enrolling on the Professional Masters of Education at MIC. Niamh is a Waterford Senior Camogie player and won a Division 1B National Camogie League medal and reached the final of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship with the Déise this year. Niamh has represented her county on the pitch since she was 12 and holds three All Ireland Championship medals with Waterford at U14 and U16 level and a Munster and All Ireland medal with St Angela’s School in 2018. Niamh is a member of the De La Salle club in Waterford and holds Junior and Intermediate County Medals in 2015, 2016, 2022 and 2023. Niamh will line out for De La Salle against Drom & Inch this weekend in a repeat of last year’s Munster Club Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final. Niamh is also a Purcell Cup winner with UCD and hopes to continue her third level success with MIC’s camogie team. Outside her playing career, Niamh has coached underage teams for both club and county and is a national referee.

In its second year, Limerick camogie player Caoimhe Costelloe and Clare senior hurler Diarmuid Ryan were announced as the 2022 MIC GPA Scholarship awardees.

Impressively, it was the second year that Caoimhe Costelloe was awarded the scholarship in recognition of her sporting success at club and county level. The Adare clubwoman has been a key member of the Limerick camogie side since 2013, helping them to a Division 2 League title in her inaugural year. Caoimhe won the Camogie Association’s Soaring Star award the following year after playing a crucial role in Limerick’s wins in both the Minor and Intermediate Camogie Championships. Caoimhe was again to the fore during Limerick’s 2017 season which saw them crowned Munster Champions, and was chosen to Captain the Shannonsiders in 2019 and 2020. Caoimhe continued to impress nd was announced as GPA Player of the Month for June, as well as being nominated for a 2022 All Star award for her outstanding performance in the Championship, including scoring 2-10 out of Limerick’s 2-11 in their five-point win over Down. She has also represented MIC on the pitch and was part of the 2015 outfit who won the Purcell Cup, while studying the Bachelor of Education degree.

Also awarded an MIC GPA Scholarship was Clare hurler Diarmuid Ryan. The Cratloe clubman has played inter-county hurling for the Banner since 2017 and was nominated for an All Star award for his performance in Clare’s All-Ireland Championship campaign, where they reached the Semi-Final stages. Diarmuid attended Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís Secondary School and was Vice-Captain of the Harty Cup winning team in 2018. He was a key hurler for MIC while studying a Bachelor of Arts degree, including captaining the side in their 2021 Fitzgibbon Cup campaign. Diarmuid is also a crucial player for Cratloe and guided them to the Semi-Finals of this year’s Clare Senior Hurling Championship, before they lost out to reigning Champions, Ballyea.

For further information about 2022 MIC GPA Scholarship recipients, click here.

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) were delighted to announce Limerick footballer Pádraig de Brún and Limerick camogie player Caoimhe Costelloe as the first awardees of the MIC GPA Scholarship Scheme in 2021. The newly established scholarship is the result of a partnership between MIC and the GPA, in an extension of the proven track record both have for promoting sport and education.

Limerick Footballer Pádraig de Brún was awarded the Scholarship in recognition of his commitment to his education while also succeeding on the sports field. Previously playing with East Kerry, de Brún won a County Championship Minor Football Medal in 2013 and captained East Kerry Minors in 2014. He won a County Championship Senior Football Medal with East Kerry Seniors in 2019. A member of the Limerick Senior Football Team since 2017, de Brún holds McGrath Cup and Division 4 Allianz National League Medals with the Shannonsiders. Off the field he is teaching at Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís, where he also attended, and is currently studying the M Ed in Middle Leadership and Mentoring at MIC’s Thurles campus, having previously received a first-class honours at Diploma level. He completed his BA & PME at University College Cork.

Caoimhe Costelloe has been a standout player for Limerick’s camogie side since 2013 when she won a Division 2 League Title. The following year, she won the Soaring Star award for her part in taking the All Ireland Premier Minor title and the All Ireland Intermediate title. In 2015, she was a Purcell Cup winner with MIC while studying as a Bachelor of Education, from which she graduated in 2018. Costelloe helped Limerick to a 2017 Munster Senior Camogie Championship win and in 2021 scored eight points against Clare to secure the Treaty another place in the final, against eventual Munster champions Cork.

For further information about 2021 MIC GPA Scholarship recipients, click here.