The GPA and Dundalk Institute of Technology announce new scholarship agreement

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) are delighted to announce details of a new scholarship agreement that will benefit two inter-county players annually for the next 3-years. The agreement will see 6 players share in almost €35,000 of scholarship funding from the 2022/2023 academic year to the 2024/2025 academic year.

The scholarship opportunities will be available to GPA members who have successfully secured a place to study on any full time Postgraduate/Masters courses available at DkIT.  Applications will be assessed using a set of criteria agreed between DkIT and the GPA.  The successful applicants will be known as Dundalk Institute of Technology/GPA Scholars.

To mark the announcement a photocall was held at DkIT where representatives from both organisations were in attendance alongside players currently studying at DkIT – Monaghan’s Gary Mohan and Louth’s Niamh Rice.

Speaking on behalf of the GPA, CEO Tom Parsons said; “Creating an environment which allows players to be the best they can be both on and off the pitch is central to our work.  We cannot do this without the support of Ireland’s educational institutions and we are delighted to establish this partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology.  On behalf of players, I want to thank those involved for making this happen and especially the team at DkIT for backing inter-county players in this way.”

Speaking about the announcement, Derek Crilly, Sports Officer at DkIT said; “We’re delighted to partner with the GPA for this scholarship programme. We’re committed to supporting students so that they meet their academic and sporting potential during their time in DkIT. I’d like to thank all in the GPA for the time and effort to get this programme in place and we look forward to developing our relationship in the future.”

Also speaking at the launch, Colin Cooney, Programme Director for the MBS in Entrepreneurship and Marketing said; For the last 20 years, this multi-award-winning programme has been producing independent minded, self-reliant graduates with the theory, practice and research capability necessary to excel in the modern digital global environment with specialisms in the areas of Entrepreneurship and Marketing. We have no doubt that high achieving GPA inter-county players will contribute positively to this and other post graduate programmes that they can choose from.”

Dundalk Institute of Technology/GPA Scholars will agree to actively contribute to the college environment and also to its GAA community.  They will also support agreed promotional activity.

Eligible candidates wishing to apply should contact GPA Education Manager Karen Thorpe on karen@gaelicplayers.com