Over 20 sports are represented by some180 scholars at DCU, TCD, UL and UCD.
DCU
DCU
How many scholars? 40
Sports represented: Gaelic football, hurling, athletics, camogie, women's basketball, men's volleyball, tennis.
Entry requirements: Athletes who have played/represented Ireland at national level, rugby players who have played inter-provincially and GAA athletes who have played for their counties can apply directly to any course at DCU through the scholarship programme rather than through the CAO. Minimum university and subject requirements apply, but not the regular CAO points requirement.
Supports available: Accommodation and travel costs, membership of the sports arena, access to facilities, coaching, testing and medical supports. DCU sports scholars can continue to play with their local teams and work with their own coaches as well as the university coaches.
Athletes who have come through the DCU system: Bryan Cullen (Gaelic football) Darren Sutherland (boxer) Kevin Reilly (Gaelic football) Conor Mortimer (Gaelic football) Martina McCarthy (athletics)
TCD
How many scholars? 25
Sports represented: Athletics, basketball, canoe, cricket, equestrian, GAA, hockey, rowing, rugby, sailing, soccer and swimming.
Entry requirements: Students must gain entry to college on their academic ability.
Supports available: Financial support, nutritional advice, physiological assessment/fitness testing, follow up training which is carried out at the university's human performance laboratory.
Athletes who have come through the TCD system: Mark Kennelly (athletics) Keelin Fox (badminton) Bernard Dunne (boxing) Ed Joyce (cricket) Linda Caulfield (hockey) Niall Conlon (rugby)
UL
How many scholars? 20
Sports represented: Rugby, basketball, athletics, hockey, soccer, golf, rowing.
Entry requirements: Athletes who have played/represented Ireland at national level, rugby players who have played inter-provincially and GAA athletes who have played for their counties can apply through the regular CAO system.
Supports available: Accommodation and travel costs, membership of the sports arena, access to facilities, coaching, testing and medical supports.
Athletes who have come through the UL system: Tomás Coman (athletics) Barry Murphy (rugby) Sarah Jane Belton (rugby) Brian Geary (hurling) Eimear Cregan (hockey)
UCD
How many scholars? 100
Sports represented: Rugby, soccer, hockey, Gaelic football, hurling, athletics, camogie, women's football, golf, handball, table tennis.
Entry requirements: Athletes who have played/represented Ireland at national level, rugby players who have played inter-provincially and GAA athletes who have played for their counties can apply directly to the diploma in sports management. For all other courses, scholar applicants go through the CAO.
Supports available: Depending on the needs of the individual scholar, accommodation and travel costs, membership of the sports arena, access to facilities, coaching, testing and medical supports.
Athletes who have come through the UCD system: Brian O'Driscoll (rugby) Peter Lawrie (golf) Derval O'Rourke (athletics) Paul McDonald (golf) Stephen Lucey (hurling) Brian O'Riordan (rugby)
