THIRTY-TWO IT Sligo Students, five of whom are from Donegal, have been awarded new Sports Scholarships, which will develop their skills and make them ambassadors for the Institute in competitions at home and abroad.

They were presented to the students at a special ceremony on Wednesday. The first-time recipients include Donegal senior gaelic footballers Stephen McBrearty, Eoghan Bán Gallagher and goalkeeper Danny Rogers and five-time Irish women’s light welterweight boxing champion Ciara Sheedy from Co. Mayo.

Soccer goalkeeper Ali Alniyadi, originally from Oman and who has recently been part of the Sligo Rovers squad during their pre-season friendlies, is also a Sports Scholarship recipient.

While GAA and Soccer dominate the scholarship list this year with 24 awards, Athletics, Racquetball and Clay Pigeon Shooting also feature.

Congratulating all the students on their success, the Registrar of IT Sligo, Colin McLean, said: “Each of our Sports Scholarship students has excelled in their chosen sports activity and in so doing they have enhanced IT Sligo’s reputation as an academic setting that values and rewards sporting prowess.”

In addition to the first time recipients, a further 23 students had their existing sports scholarships renewed. These include county gaelic footballer Eoin McHugh, Brian McGroary from Letterbarrow, Greencastle’s Kathy McLaughlin, and Jason Quinn from Letterkenny.

IT Sligo allocates a €50,000 fund for Sports Scholarships Scheme and all students are entitled to apply.

New Sports Scholarship Recipients

Christopher Flanagan – Soccer
Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Course: Human Nutrition
Has played at international level for Ireland from U15 to U19.

Stephen McBrearty – Gaelic Football
Kilcar, Co Donegal
Course: Business
Member of the Institute’s Freshers gaelic footlall team, and along with his elder brother Patrick, a member of the Donegal senior football panel.

Darren Curran – Gaelic Football
Dungloe, Co Donegal
Course: Health Science & Physiology
Member of the Institute’s Freshers gaelic football team. U21 county footballer with Donegal.

Danny Rogers – Gaelic Football
Burtonport, Co Donegal
Course: Quantity Surveying
Goalkeeper on the Donegal senior football panel, 2016.

Eoghan Bán Gallagher – Gaelic Football
Killybegs, Co Donegal
Course: BA in Accounting
Member of the Donegal senior football panel In 2016. Son of John Bán who played with his county in the 1990s. Ulster minor football championship winner in 2014.