Kildare athletes celebrated at Trinity College Dublin Sport Scholarship ceremony

Kildare athletes Grace Moloney (Irish Senior Volleyball player), Cian Tiernan (Irish Basketball player) and William Mac Donald Hughes (Irish Fencer) were unveiled as TCD's sport scholars for the 2024 / 25 season

Kildare athletes Grace Moloney, Cian Tiernan and William Mac Donald Hughes were recently celebrated as Trinity College Dublin unveiled its sport scholars for the 2024 / ‘25 season on Monday, November 11 at an event for family and friends at the Dining Hall, Trinity College Dublin.

This year’s awardees, comprising of 38 Trinity Sport scholars and 35 club academy scholars will represent Trinity this season across twenty-one sports including rugby, basketball, volleyball, rowing, hockey, fencing, sailing, and cricket. Maire Treasa Ni Cheallaigh presented the awards on the night and Trinity student athletes Sarah Kenny (Irish Basketball player), Shane McEntee (Meath Gaelic Football player) and Sean Husband (Triathlete) took part in a panel discussion on the theme of ‘High Performance Mindset’.  

William Mac Donald Hughes (Fencing) and Ciara Mulligan (Hockey and Basketball) receive this year’s Trevor West Scholarship which is awarded to exceptional athletes who have shown outstanding contribution to sport at Trinity and within their respective sport clubs. Lisa Blaney (Basketball) receives the K.O. Lee basketball scholarship in association with Trinity Meteors.

The scholarship was created in memory of Trinity alumnus K.O Lee who coached the Meteors Ladies Basketball team at Trinity and contributed to the team’s success in the 1970s. Emma Merriweather (Basketball) received this year’s Global Graduate Sport Scholarship in association with Trinity Business School while Shane McEntee (GAA Football) received this year’s GPA / Trinity Business School scholarship.  

Michelle Tanner, Director of Sport and Physical Activity, Trinity College Dublin commented on the night, “We’re thrilled to be here this evening to recognise the achievements and commitments of Trinity’s student athletes. We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s exceptional calibre of student athletes for the 2024 / ‘25 academic year. With representation from twenty-one sports and a diverse array of internationally acclaimed and emerging athletes, Trinity College Dublin reaffirms our commitment to nurturing sporting talents.”  

Dr. Richard Porter, Dean of Students, Trinity College Dublin commented, “I am delighted to be here this evening to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our student athletes who have been awarded a place on this year's Trinity Sport Scholarship Programme. This scholarship recognises your achievements so far, and importantly, your potential to go even further. The Trinity Sport Scholarship Programme reflects our commitment to providing unwavering support to student athletes, enabling you to compete not only at regional and national levels but also on the international stage. We firmly believe that you can excel both in your academic pursuits and your chosen sports, and we are here to ensure you have the resources and encouragement to do just that.”