Over 80 ATU sports scholars celebrated in Galway

February 26, 2026

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) celebrated the achievements of its sports scholars at the Galway Mayo Sports Scholarship Awards Ceremony, held on 19 February 2026 on its Galway City Campus, Dublin Road.

Two sports scholars at the ATU Galway awards ceremony

The event recognised 84 scholars from the Galway Mayo region, forming part of a wider cohort of more than 240 sports scholars across ATU’s Galway Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal campuses.

Athletes were recognised across a wide range of disciplines, from individual sports such as swimming, athletics, boxing, golf, cycling, kickboxing, karate, and powerlifting, to team sports including soccer, Gaelic football, rugby, hurling, camogie, volleyball, and basketball.

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, addressed the ceremony and commended scholars for their dedication, resilience and leadership, praising their commitment to excellence both on and off the field.

Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of the Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition at ATU, then led an engaging panel discussion with the three guest speakers from Connacht Rugby Club: Allan Temple Jones, Head of Athletic Performance; Mike O’Driscoll, Athletic Performance Coach; and Marcia Jerman, Lead Performance Nutritionist. The guests shared their expertise in athlete nutrition, rehabilitation, and balancing academic commitments with high‑performance sport. Their contributions offered valuable guidance to scholars striving to excel in both the field and their studies.

ATU’s Sports Scholarship Programme provides financial assistance, academic flexibility, and access to high‑performance training supports, enabling students to pursue excellence in both sport and education.