DCU and Gaelic Players Association announce 2019 scholarship winners

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Former Dublin footballers Mark Vaughan and Shane Carthy, former Roscommon footballer Paul Gleeson and current Dublin hurler Riain McBride have been announced as this year’s recipients of the prestigious DCU/GPA postgraduate scholarships.

Mark and Paul have been awarded scholarships for the DCU Business School MBA, while Shane and Riain receive DCU Business School/GPA Full-time Masters scholarships for the MSc Management programmes.

They follow in the footsteps of an array of hurlers and footballers from rights across the country who have been the beneficiaries of these scholarships over the course of the past decade.

Previous recipients of DCU Business School/GPA MBA scholarship over the course of the ten-year relationship include Armagh’s Justin McNulty, Donegal’s Paul Durcan, Fermanagh’s Chris Breen, Leitrim’s Rob Lowe, Westmeath’s David O’Shaughnessy, Mayo’s Barry Moran and Dublin’s Jason Sherlock.

Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan, Roscommon’s Enda Smith, Cavan’s Dara McVeety and Waterford’s Donal Breathnach are among those who have received DCU Business School/GPA Full-time Masters scholarships.

Executive Dean of DCU Business School Professor Anne Sinnott commented: “We’re delighted to celebrate ten years of partnership with the GPA through these scholarships. The GPA scholarship awardees have made an excellent contribution to academic life here at DCU Business School and we are proud to help their career development through our Masters programmes. The GPA scholars balance sporting, academic and work commitments and are ambassadors for both the GPA and DCU Business School. Congratulations to our four new GPA scholars who join a long legacy of high achievers who’ve benefitted from this scholarship programme.”

Speaking on behalf of the GPA, CEO Paul Flynn added; “First of all congratulations to the four scholarship recipients who have been announced today. We are delighted to be able to work with DCU Business School to support these four individuals to thrive on and off the pitch.

“Our role in the GPA is three-fold; to represent players’ interests, protect their welfare and to support their development. These scholarships have played a huge part in the developent of players and former players down through the years and I hope that they will continue to do so into the future.