Queen’s GAA Scholarship Awards 2015/16

August 10th, 2016 | Camogie, Featured Homepage News, Gaelic Football, Hurling, Ladies Football, Queens GAA News

Queen’s GAA bursary recipients for 2015/16

Queen’s University Sean O’Neill Academy Scholarship Awards 2015/16

Queen’s University have awarded end of year bursaries for each GAA Academy member who successfully completed the academic year. Bursaries are awarded to students dependent on performance within the Academy programs, engagement with club activities and application to the University teams.

The GAA Academy at Queen’s supports students across all five GAA codes, who are driven to improve as a player while they work towards a high class qualification during their time at the University. In recent years the support programs around these students and expertise to guide them has continued to grow.

Each full Academy member across all sports can gain access to the following:

• Full membership of the Queen’s PEC at Botanic and full access to Upper Malone Sports Complex
• Personal, Game/Sport Specific Athletic development programs
• Personalised S&C coaching and exclusive access to the Strength and Conditioning suite at Upper Malone through Mick McGurn
• Physiotherapy / Sports Medicine support and Sports Education workshops
• Fitness testing, performance analysis and recovery monitoring
• Academic flexibility with respect to authorised absence for competition, assessment deadlines, examinations and course duration
• A range of bespoke Queen’s Sport Academy clothing
• Academic, Lifestyle and Career mentoring
• Performance Analysis Feedback
• Opportunity to avail of Queen’s Sport Adult Activity Course and Class Programme, including yoga, pilates, etc.
• Bespoke, personal Sports nutrition advice & supplements where applicable
• Degree Plus Accreditation (Route A) upon full completion of Academy Programme
• Exclusive Membership of Queen’s Sport Personal Development Programme (A.I.M)
• Financial support of up to £1,000 per annum based on representative honours

Bursary Support

In addition to the staff, facility & programs support listed, athletes will avail of bursary support as follows:

Gold status – £1000
Silver status – £750
Bronze Status – £500
*Additional club & Past Member bursaries will be awarded at season end.

Elite Athlete Program

Since the University’s foundation, sport has played an important and integral part in the Queen’s student experience. The University’s long tradition of sporting excellence has co-existed with the academic excellence for which Queen’s is internationally renowned.

The collective aim is to emphasise what it means for our students to learn, play and excel in academia and sport. We believe the skills gained from both can prepare graduates to meet new challenges. Leadership, attitude, commitment, mental toughness, character, communication, respect, teamwork are just some of the qualities we hope you foster from your involvement in sport at Queen’s.

The Elite Athlete Programme (EAP) aims to create the right sporting and academic environment for high achieving students to reach their potential. This programme has been established to attract sporting scholars placing academia and sporting ambition together in equal measure at Queen’s University Belfast. The overall package per annum is worth up to £10,000 per student and is designed to support the athlete throughout their time studying at Queen’s.
Some of the major benefits will include:

• £3,000 contribution towards fees
• Up to £3,000 contribution towards accommodation, international competition and support aids
• Personalised Strength & Conditioning coaching
• Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy Support
• Individual Academic Support and Career advice

The Queen’s GAA Development Officer, Aidan O’Rourke, who manages the Sean O’Neill Academy program at the University commented

“The role of GAA Club and Academy at Queen’s is to create an environment which allows students the best opportunity to pursue the twin goals of sporting and academic excellence. We place great emphasis on the personal development of students alongside helping them to develop their game through coaching and mentoring.
Against a background of ever increasing training and playing pressures, we invest a lot of resources helping students to manage their time and to prioritise playing, academics and recovery through the year. I would like to thank supporters of the Sean O’Neill GAA Academy from our alumni network and the business community who have invested in this ongoing player and student development work.
Our support programs for Academy and Sub Academy members enable students to make real progress with their game while earning a world class education.
We hope that the bursaries these students have earned go some way to helping our most talented players to manage their time and to alleviate the ever increasing cost of a University Education”.

Elite Athlete Scholars

Aimee Mackin (Armagh)
Football and Health, Physical Activity and Sport
2015 All Star and 2016 Division 1 team of the year

Martin Clarke (Down)
Football and Health, Physical Activity and Sport

Shea Heffron (Armagh)
Football and Actuarial Science

Fionnuala McKenna (Armagh)
Football and PGCE Mathematics

Gold Level Academy Scholars

Ryan Murray (Antrim)
Football and MEng (Civil Engineering)
2016 Cormac McAnallen Medal winner

Gerard McGovern (Down)
Football and project management
Sigerson Cup Captain

Brendan Rogers (Derry)
Football and Software development
Ulster Railway Cup player

Ciaron O’Hanlon (Armagh)
Football and Physical Activity and Sport

Ruairi Corrigan (Fermanagh)
Football and Software development

Niall Delargy (Antrim)
Football and Business Management