GAA Announce Details of National Student Bursaries Scheme

The GAA has unveiled details of its National Bursaries scheme for students attending Higher Education colleges as part of its ongoing commitment to Player Welfare. The scheme, which is now in its third year, will be open to members of the Association who are attending a full-time Higher Education course (except those who hold another GAA-related or college scholarship/bursary) and who are active participants in their Higher Education club. 

Speaking today, Uachtarán CLG Criostóir Ó Cuana said: “We are delighted to be able to continue our commitment to the National Bursary scheme for the coming year especially in the context of the current economic climate. The scheme is a further manifestation of our ongoing and increasing commitment to Player Welfare. Recipients will again be selected on the basis of their playing commitment and administrative or coaching commitment to the college club and 20% of all awards in each province will be granted to students excelling in the areas of coaching and administration”. The President went on to pay tribute to the voluntary work of students with their College GAA Clubs and said that the bursary scheme would assist students, who might otherwise have to work to meet the costs of their education, in devoting more time to the promotion of Gaelic games in their respective colleges.

Bursaries will be administered by the respective Provincial Councils and applications for the scheme will be considered by a sub-committee in each provincel. Each bursary granted will be for €1000/£800 and payment will be made annually in two instalments of €500/£400. Further information and application forms for this year’s scheme are available to download from www.gaa.ie , the various GAA Provincial Council websites and offices and from the Higher Education Colleges website  he.gaa.ie/  . All completed forms should be returned to the relevant Provincial Council and the closing date for application will be November 1st 2009.

The President also confirmed that this year, for the first time, there will be a Research element to the Scheme with the GAA making four Research Bursaries of €4,500 available to students for projects that can be considered to be of benefit in the general area of player welfare.  These will be allocated by the Medical Scientific & Welfare Committee and the new National Research Committee as appropriate The date for receipt of Research proposals is November 30th 2009 and further information on the matter is available directly from the GAA’s Player Welfare office from Stephen Browne at 01 8658685 or Stephen.browne@gaa.ie

In total the GAA will be investing €260,000 in its Bursary scheme this year, with the Provincial Councils contributing €155,000 of this amount and the balance coming from central resources.