Health & Human Performance

Biographical Details:

Dr. Sarah Meegan joined the School of Health and Human Performance in 2005. Sarah received a BSc in Sports and Exercise Science from Liverpool John Moores University, an MSc in Adapted Physical Activity from the Katholieke University Leuven and a PhD in Inclusive Physical Education from the University of Limerick. Sarah has spent several years delivering physical education and physical activity programmes for people with disabilities.

Research Interests:

Inclusion in physical education(PE)/ PE teacher experiences of incuding students with special educational needs in mainstream PE/ Factors affecting physical activity participation among people with disabilities/ Developing teaching practice guidelines for pre-service PE teachers

Selected Peer Reviewed Journals

• Meegan, S., Dunning, C., Belton, S.J. and Woods, C. 2013. Teaching practice: University supervisor's experiences and perceptions of a cooperating physical education teacher education programme. European Physical Education Review, In publication.,
• Dunning, C., Meegan, S., Woods, C. & Belton, S. 2011. The impact of the COPET programme on student teachers' teaching practice experiences. European Physical Education Review, 17, 2, pp153-166.
• Belton, S., Brady, P., Meegan, S. & Woods, C. 2010. Pedometer step count and BMI of Irish primary school children aged 6¿9 years. Preventive Medicine, 50, 4, pp189-192.
• Belton, S., Woods, C., Dunning, C. & Meegan, S. 2010. COPET: The Evaluation of a Cooperating Physical Education Teachers Programme. European Physical Education Review, 16, 2, pp141-154.
• Meegan, S., Maraj, B., Weeks, D. & Chua, R. 2006. Gross motor skill acquisition in adolescents with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome Research And Practice, 9, 3
• Meegan, S. & MacPhail, A. 2006. Inclusive education, Ireland's education provision for children with special educational needs. Irish Educational Studies, 25, 1
• Meegan, S. & MacPhail, A. 2006. Irish physical educator's attitude toward teaching students with special educational needs. European Physical Education Review, 12, 1, pp75-97.

Selected Chapters

• Meegan, S.M. 2010. Using ethnogrpahy to explore the experiences of a student with special educational needs in mainstream physical education. Young People's Voices in Physical Education and Youth Sport., pp88-107.

Selected Non-peer Reviewed Journals

• Dr. Sarah M Meegan. .
• Belton, S., Meegan, S., Brady, P., Woods, C. ,. 2009. Relationship between PA levels and BMI in Irish primary school children. National Institute of Health Sciences Research Bulletin, 5,
• Meegan, S. 2007. Providing an inclusive and accessible fitness environment. NCEF National Fitness News, 10,
• Meegan, S. 2006. To include or not to include: Physical activity for all abilities. NCEF National Fitness News, 9,

• Belton, S., Meegan, S., Brady, P. & Woods, C., An examination of step count, BMI and physical activity participation in Irish primary school children, PEPAYS Research Forum, 11-JUN-09 - 12-JUN-09, University of Limerick
• Belton, S., Meegan, S., Dunning, C., & Woods, C., COPET: The evaluation of a cooperating physical education teacher's programme, AIESEP International Forum, 27-MAY-09 - 29-MAY-09, Besancon, France
• Meegan, S, Inclusion in physical education: An ethnographic study, National Conference in Adapted Physical Activity, 17-NOV-08 - 18-NOV-08, Tralee, Co. Kerry
• Belton, S., Meegan, S., Dunning, C., & Woods, C., COPET: The development of a cooperating physical education teacher¿s programme., PEPAYS Research Forum, 12-JUN-08 - 13-JUN-08, University of Limerick
• Woods, C.B., Belton, S., Brady, P. and Meegan, S., An Evaluation of the Physical Education After School Activity Programme, PE PAYS Research Forum, 12-JUN-08 - 13-JUN-08, University of Limerick
• Meegan, S., Including students with special educational needs in physical education, Physical Education Association of Ireland Annual Conference, 05-OCT-07 - 06-OCT-07, University College Cork
• Meegan, S., Children¿s attitude toward inclusive physical education., International Symposium in Adapted Physical Activity, 09-JUL-05 - 11-JUL-05, Verona, Italy
• Meegan. S and MacPhail. A, Teachers attitude towards inclusive physical education, British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, 16-SEP-04 - 18-SEP-04, University of Birmingham
• Meegan. S and MacPhail. A, Ireland¿s educational legislation for children with disabilities, British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, 12-SEP-03 - 14-SEP-03, University of Edinburgh