GPA DCU Masters Scholars unveiled for 2014
Nine county players past and present have been awarded scholarships in this year’s GPA DCU Business School Masters Scholarship Programme with three new entrants accepted to the prestigious MBA Programme.
Former Westmeath star David O’Shaughnessy along with ex-Dublin duo Coman Goggins and Barry Cahill have all been granted MBA Scholarships and they will now follow in the footsteps of second-year students Chris Breen from Fermanagh and Leitrim’s Rob Lowe onto the DCU MBA programme. An MBA at Dublin City University is widely recognised as the degree of choice for rising executives with ambitions to become leaders in the business world.
The DCU MBA programme is aimed at established and mid-career business professionals and technical and engineering specialists who want to make the transition to senior management positions. Participants are typically drawn from a variety of industry sectors, including financial services, manufacturing and technology, as well as the public and not-for-profit sectors.
O’Shaughnessy, Cahill and Goggins will bring to 12 the tally of GAA players who have benefitted from the scholarship programme over the last five years. Other notable graduates to date have included Sligo’s Patrick Quinn, Louth’s Michael Martin, Kilkenny Hurler, Richie Hogan, Dublin forward Jason Sherlock and former Armagh star Justin McNulty.
As well as the three MBA Scholarships, six other county players have been accepted onto Masters Programmes as part of the GPA/DCU Programme. Two players have been granted scholarships to pursue an MSc in Management, Louth footballer Eoin O’Connor and current All-Star James McCarthy. Two other players have been awarded scholarships for the MSc in Strategy, Cathal Bellew from Louth and former New York player Shane Carthy while Leitrim’s Donal Wrynn and Roscommon’s Tadhg Lowe will pursue the MSc in Finance.
Speaking about the announcement, GPA CEO Dessie Farrell said: “I’d like to congratulate all the players who have now commenced their various Masters Programmes in DCU Business School. I would particularly like to congratulate David O’Shaughnessy who is receiving a full GPA Scholarship to pursue the MBA Programme. These scholarships provide life-changing opportunities for the players, helping them in their personal development and to broaden their career opportunities. It is increasingly satisfying to consider that we are now celebrating the fifth intake under the joint scholarship scheme. I would like to wish all the scholars the very best of luck with their studies over the next 12 to 24 months.”
The Dean of DCU Business School, Anne Sinnott commented: “We are delighted to have these players as students on our Masters programmes. They are a great asset to the School and role models for our other students. We see the difference these programmes make to their lives and the skills they equip them with for their future careers.”
A portion of DCU's funding for full-time Masters Scholarships is provided by the DCU GAA Academy.