IT Sligo reveals 22 new students to avail of Sports Scholarships
FORMER Stoke City footballer Ryan O’Reilly and multiple sprint athletics champion Zak Irwin were among 22 new recipients of IT Sligo Sports Scholarships for 2017, which were announced by the Institute recently. The awards provide financial and mentoring support to athletes of outstanding talent. Recipients are supported by IT Sligo in keeping up their sporting commitments at the same time as pursuing their educational commitments and goals. Cavan native Ryan O’Reilly is one of two Gold sports scholarship recipients this year. He spent five seasons with English Premier League club Stoke City before opting to return to Ireland and continue his education at IT Sligo where he is studying for a degree in business. “Coming back to Ireland, I wanted to continue my education and to keep playing football,” said 21- year- old Ryan. “IT Sligo has given me the opportunity to do that.” The other Gold Sports Scholarship recipient is Sligo sprinter Zak Irwin who is a first year international mar- keting student. He is a multiple national title winner both indoors and outdoors and has previously represented Ireland at the World Junior Athletics Championships ( 2014). The list includes Donegal Gaelic footballers Andrew McClean, Jamie Brennan and Michael Langan. The trio recently made their senior intercountry debuts for Donegal in the Dr McKenna Cup competition in Ulster. Sligo Rovers Under 19 footballers Shay Doherty from Strandhill and Gary Higgins, a native of Ballyhaunis are also new scholarship recipients. While GAA and Soccer provide the bulk of the scholarship students, basketball, equestrian and karate also feature with the awards spanning eight different sports in total. Nine- time Irish boxing champion and former World junior championship winner Ciara Ginty from Geesala in Co Mayo is also recognised. Congratulating the new sports scholars on their awards, Dr Brendan McCormack, President of IT Sligo said: “One of the Institute’s core missions is to develop and nurture rounded graduates and individuals. It is why we place a strong emphasis on the extra- curricular element to higher education, through programmes like our Sports Scholarship Scheme. Each of our Sports Scholarship recipients have excelled in their chosen sports activity and in so doing they have enhanced IT Sligo’s reputation as an academic setting that values and rewards sporting prowess.”
In addition to the first time recipients, a further 28 students had their existing sports scholarships renewed. These include Northern Ireland women’s soccer international Catherine Hyndman, IT Sligo Sigerson Cup captain Daragh McConnon and Irish international surfer Ronan Oerzten. IT Sligo allocates a € 50,000 fund for the Sports Scholarships Scheme each year and all students are entitled to apply. Since its introduction in 2003, the IT Sligo Sports Scholarship programme has benefited students involved in a wide range of sports including soccer, Gaelic,