Almost two dozen Limerick Athletes receive LIT Sports Scholarship 

Limerick Kickboxer Tyrone Cronin with LIT President Vincent Cunnane pictured as 56 international athletes received the Limerick Institute of Technology Sports Scholarship this academic year. Picture Brian Arthur.

Almost two dozen Limerick Athletes receive LIT Sports Scholarship 

23 Limerick sportspeople, including one Limerick All Ireland winning hurler, were among the 56 international athletes to receive the LIT Sports Scholarship this academic year. 

The LIT Sports Scholarship recipients were honoured at a special event at Limerick Institute of Technology, Moylish Campus during which keynote speaker World Rugby Referee and former LIT Sports Scholarship recipient Joy Neville spoke of the value of sports scholarships and the opportunities open to the recipients during their time at LIT. 

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Supported by sponsors PMI, the LIT Sports Scholarship awards are set apart from other sports scholarships as they encourage young athletes to achieve greatness in their chosen sport, while also providing a vast range of off-field supports for their education and mental wellbeing.

In its third year, the new LIT Sports Scholarship Programme provides athletic support, focuses on individual welfare, and includes off-field mentoring and education support to its recipients.

This year’s recipients excel at a number of sports including basketball, camogie, hurling, Gaelic football, handball, rugby, kickboxing, and swimming.

President of LIT, Prof Vincent Cunnane, described the scholarships as reflective of LIT’s ethos – supporting its students to be the best they can be in their chosen field, while also ensuring they have the skillset and knowledge to succeed long after they graduate from LIT.

“It is important to understand that first and foremost these young athletes are part of an institution which recognises them as a member of its community. That means valuing them and supporting them in a balanced way. It’s about what happens off the field and off the track as much as on it.  

“The LIT Sports Scholarship Programme puts the circumstances in place to allow the recipients to unlock as much of their potential as possible. In addition to financial aid, we have a number of athlete support measures built into our programme to do this. These range from off-field mentoring to education support, sports psychology, and advice on managing issues like social media,” he said.

Alan Fitzgerald, Ciara Clancy, Darragh Oxley, Jordan Prendiville, Patrick Ryan, with Lee Fitzgerald of LIT Rugby pictured today as 56 international athletes received the Limerick Institute of Technology Sports Scholarship this academic year. Pic. Brian Arthur.

Congratulating the scholarship recipients Prof Cunnane added, “Here at LIT we think it is important to support you and to recognise your excellence.”

Former LIT GAA Development Officer Paul Browne who has just taken up the position of Games Development Officer with Limerick GAA was also recognised at today’s event for his contribution to sport at LIT.

Sports stars including international rugby referee Joy Neville, hurling All-Stars Seamus Callanan (Tipperary) and Peter Duggan (Clare), and Irish boxer Christina Desmond have previously received this scholarship from LIT.

Meanwhile, the inaugural LIT Gaelic Grounds Scholarship awards will be presented during half time at the Limerick V Waterford Allianz League Hurling Game in the LIT Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night.

Other Limerick Institute of Technology Sports Scholarship recipients include Joy Neville. Joy studied Social Care at LIT, before becoming the college’s Rugby Officer up until last year when her career as a leading international referee became too large a commitment to take on alongside her work in LIT. The pinnacle of Joy’s 11-year rugby career was winning the Grand Slam for Ireland.  

But since retiring in 2013, she has become

• The first woman to referee in the All-Ireland Division 1A 
• The first woman to referee in the European Challenge Cup
• The first female to officiate in the European Champions Cup 
• Officiating the Pro 12
• Officiating the Women’s World Cup Final between England and New Zealand;
• And has been named World Rugby Referee of the Year 2017.
• Joy received the 2019 LIT Alumni Award for Contribution to Equality.

Sport at LIT:

LIT has an impressive range of sports facilities for students, including three full-size pitches, an all-weather playing pitch, as well as fitness centres and indoor sports halls. LIT Thurles campus hosts the purpose-built €3.7m, state of the art strength and conditioning building, ‘SportsLab’. Among the facilities available in the 2,000 sq. meter facility is a 45m, six-lane a sprint track specially designed to improve speed; a paralympic area; cable machines; a range of sport technology systems, including micro electro mechanical systems and GPS systems; Olympic lifting platforms; five functional screening kits; weights and the full range of exercise machines. Many local clubs, inter-county and international athletes and teams have also availed of the superb facilities in the SportsLab.

LIT Sports Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. 

An individualisation package of benefits can include: 
Academic support – where possible a student may be afforded some extra tuition
Coaching Support – best practice
Sports Psychology – access to a sports psychology consultant
Injury Management – access to physiotherapy
Gym Use – free membership to the Gym on campus
Sports Nutrition – access to information on Nutrition
Financial Support – towards fees, books, equipment, travel, etc.
Coaching Courses – Access to various coaching courses

Each scholarship is determined by the needs of the individual and his/her chosen sport. The scholarships are decided by the LIT Sports Office. Any support services depend on the type of scholarship awarded to the individual and may be paid in full or subsidised. Additional support may be given to individuals on a discretionary basis by request to the LIT Sports Office.

For more information and to apply for LIT’s Sports Scholarship programme, click here

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