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DCU and Bank of Ireland strengthening winning partnership
DCU and Bank of Ireland strengthening winning partnership

DCU and Bank of Ireland strengthening winning partnership

Dublin City University and Bank of Ireland are strengthening their winning partnership with confirmation that Bank of Ireland will continue its support of the DCU Sports Academy.

The agreement, which now extends to 2020, will enable DCU Sports Academy to continue to support male and female elite athletes from track and field and inter-county GAA players (male and female) to reach their optimum performance levels and combine their studies effectively.

Since it was established in 2006 with the backing of Bank Ireland, DCU Sports Academy has provided athlete support programmes that include strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports performance development and academic guidance and career advice.

Today, the Academy assists 210 athletes and it is anticipated that the number of athletes at the Academy will grow by a further 50% over the next five years.

Current Academy athletes (GAA) include Steven O’Brien (Tipperary ), Enda Smith (Roscommon), Diarmuid O’Connor (Mayo, GAA Young Player of the Year 2015/16), Mayo senior women’s team player Sarah Rowe, Dublin duo Siobhan Woods and Leah Caffrey; Sligo’s Grainne O’Loughlin and Aishling Moloney (Tipperary).

Former alumni include Laura McEnaney (Monaghan), Fiona Hudson (Dublin), Lorraine O’Shea (Tipperary), Lindsay Pete (Dublin), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Colm Begley (Laois), Michael Quinn (Longford) and Dublin senior players including 3 times All Ireland winning captain Stephen Cluxton, Jonny Cooper, Paul Flynn, Bernard Brogan, James McCarthy and Dean Rock.

The 2016 Rio Paralympian and current DCU student Greta Streimikyte is supported by the Academy while past alumni include Olympic athletes Fionnuala Britton, Linda Byrne, Laura Reynolds, Bronagh Furlong, Paul Robinson, Brian Gregan, John Coghlan and Mark Christie. 

Speaking about the partnership Liam McLoughlin, Head of Retail Services, Bank of Ireland said:

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with DCU Sports Academy for a further three years. To date the Academy has produced fantastic talent in the world of GAA and Athletics and we at Bank of Ireland are delighted to play a part in supporting the next generation of sport stars.”

President of DCU, Professor Brian MacCraith said:

“The support of Bank of Ireland for the DCU Sports Academy has been vital in ensuring that we can provide the best possible programmes to help our students combine their studies and the demands of their chosen sport in a positive, healthy and enriching manner.

The Academy has grown significantly since it first opened in 2006 with 30 GAA players to now assist 210 students, including track and field athletes and female inter-county footballers.

We are delighted that BOI are continuing this partnership and look forward to working with them in the coming years.”