At University of Limerick (UL), for example, Noreen O’Connell says the scholarship programme is targeted at those “performing at a high level”. This year, for example, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has 62 scholarship students across its two sports programmes, while, at University College Cork (UCC), more than 100 students received a sports scholarship. UCD Ad Astra scholars, for example, can get a concession of up to 60 points, based on the average of the previous three years. According to O’Connell, academics is an important part of a scholarship programme, and no allowance is granted. Living the US dreamFor decades, Irish students have sought out a college experience in the US, thanks to a sports scholarship.

Source: The Irish Times March 03, 2026 14:01 UTC