St. Patrick’s College, Thurles GAA Scholarship

Feb 16, 2010

Press Release [February 2010]

St. Patrick’s College, Thurles GAA Scholarship

St. Patrick’s College, Thurles and the Tipperary County GAA Board are pleased to announce details of the St. Patrick’s College GAA scholarship. This scholarship aims to recognise GAA achievement and to facilitate further sporting development. The successful GAA scholar will receive excellent support in their sporting pursuits and a financial award of €500. The scholarship is open to all incoming first year students studying on the BA (Honours) in Education, Business Studies and Religious Studies and the BA (Honours)  in Education, Irish and Religious Studies. According to Fr. Tom Fogarty, President of St. Patrick’s College, “through the granting of scholarships such as this St. Patrick’s College and the GAA aim to reward students for their commitment and dedication to our national games”.  The President also highlights the obvious synergies which exist here in Thurles between St. Patrick’s College and the GAA, “it is fitting that the historical presence of both the GAA and St. Patrick’s College in Thurles should be commemorated in the younger generation of GAA players”. To date, students from St. Patrick’s College have excelled on the GAA field; in 2007 the hurlers of the TI/ St. Patrick’s GAA club won the All Ireland league Division 2 title and in the process secured Fitzgibbon Cup status. Also in the same year, the ladies football team were crowned the Donaghy shield All Ireland Ladies Football champions.

The scholarship is open to GAA club members who have proven themselves at senior and/or minor levels in Football, Hurling, Camogie and Handball. The scholarship, which is awarded to individuals deemed to have achieved or have the potential to achieve sporting recognition, is considered by a group within St. Patrick’s College.  Tim Floyd, County Secretary of the Tipperary GAA Board commented on the, “important role played by third level scholarships such as this, in supporting our young GAA players”. Potential GAA scholars will be able to apply online from August 2010, at http://www.stpats.ie.

St. Patrick’s College, Thurles is a College of Education, primarily specialising in preparing students to teach in post-primary schools. The college has a rich history of religious and humanities education dating back to 1837. The college currently offers two full-time BA (Honours) in Education degrees, which prepare teachers of Religious Studies, Irish, Business Studies and Accountancy for employment in post-primary schools. As well as offering full time academic courses, St. Patrick’s College serves as a centre for theological, pastoral and spiritual renewal in the region and continues to provide opportunities for community learning. Fr. Tom Fogarty, President of St. Patrick’s College is a former manager of the Tipperary and Offaly senior hurling teams.

The St. Patrick’s College GAA Scholarship will be presented by Tim Floyd, County Secretary at a special awards evening in September 2010 at St. Patrick’s College.

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