Ninth Level Ireland

“Hundreds of medical students are to use Croke Park as a make-shift college campus over the coming academic year to allow them to learn while social distancing. The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has signed a deal with GAA headquarters to allow 650 students will use event spaces and restaurants over a six-day week …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 1 July]

“Colleges fees paid for players, paid work experience and career mentoring: welcome to the new frontier of club sponsorship in the GAA. Traditionally, a company’s involvement with their local club might have amounted to funding a set of tracksuits or some money. But Dalkey-based Cuala in Dublin has entered into a new era of a ‘partnership’ with the American biotech firm Amgen which involves education and employment opportunities …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 1 June]

“A November window to play the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups may be the only solution to avoid the deepening county v college conflict that has surfaced again this year, the GAA’s head of games administration and player welfare Fergal McGill has suggested …” (more)

[Colm Keys, Independent, 14 February]

“Another third-level season, another row over player eligibility. Queen’s University is at the centre of the latest controversy, having had three players suspended on the basis that they weren’t eligible to play in the independent.ie Sigerson Cup …” (more)

[Independent, 10 February]

“Even now, well into their second century, the GAA’s third-level education competitions continue to occupy a sort of demi monde as far as the Gaelic games community outside the halls of academia is concerned …” (more)

[Seán Moran, Irish Times, 25 February]

“Dublin Institute of Technology have been told Ballymun Kickhams player Seán George could face a lengthy suspension if he plays against holders Dublin City University in this afternoon’s Irish Daily Mail Sigerson Cup semi-final at Athlone IT …” (more)

[Irish Times, 22 February]

“The secretary of Comhairle Ard Oideachais, the body that oversees third-level GAA, has reiterated that no individual colleges or universities are being targeted by regulations brought in two years ago which have precluded Cork’s Aidan Walsh from playing with DCU …” (more)

[Colm Keys, Independent, 8 February]

“Aidan Walsh’s appeal to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) to be allowed play for Dublin City University (DCU) this season is expected to be heard in the coming days …” (more)

[Cliona Foley, Independent, 15 January]

“Donal McAnallen, brother of the late Cormac from Tyrone, has set a new standard for GAA history books with his 100-year history of the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup competitions, which was launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny …” (more)

[Independent, 31 December]

“The irony surrounding the GAA’s most prestigious higher education competitions, the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups, is that as they become less elitist and more inclusive, the controversy attaching to them and their place in Gaelic games has intensified …” (more)

[Seán Moran, Irish Times, 12 December]

“Cork dual star Aidan Walsh will play no part in either the 2013 Sigerson or Fitzgibbon Cups after his appeal to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) was rejected. The GAA’s Higher Education Board ruling in October prevents players who have studied six years or taken more than two college courses from playing football or hurling at third level …” (more)

[Damian Lawlor, Independent, 9 December]

“A controversial new GAA rule on player eligibility for the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cups is already under intense scrutiny. Several leading colleges fear their aspirations will be hit by the directive which was drafted just two months ago by the Association’s higher education body, Comhairle Ardoideachais …” (more)

[Independent, 2 December]

“GAA president Christy Cooney has unveiled plans for a GAA national hurling and camogie development centre at Waterford Institute of Technology, saying it will prove a major benefit in helping the expansion and promotion of hurling and camogie …” (more)

[Irish Times, 6 March]

“The former Harvard University President, Derek Bok, commented in his book Universities in the Marketplace that the creeping commercialisation of higher education that he so disliked began with the development of sports in universities …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 23 June]

“Dublin City University won the prestigious O’Connor Cup for a third successive year in dramatic fashion at blustery University of Limerick on Sunday. DCU scored a 3-08 to 1-11 victory against University of Ulster, Jordanstown in an entertaining final …” (more)

[RTÉ Sport, 20 March]

“The recurring theme of county versus college conflict must be addressed for once and for all by the GAA, Niall Moyna, the DCU Sigerson Cup team manager and professor at the university’s school of health and human performance, has warned …” (more)

[Colm Keys, Independent, 19 January]

“GAA President Christy Cooney has praised the University of Ulster Gaelic Games Academy, saying the initiative should act as a sporting model for universities across Ireland …” (more)

[University of Ulster, 23 November]

“UCC GAA (Gaelic Football) Goes Global! UCC GAA recently piloted a recreational Gaelic Games initiative aimed at UCC’s international students and staff. A large group of students met on October 21st and participated in a Gaelic Football coaching session …” (more)

[Education Ireland, 28 October]

“A review of the involvement of third-level college competitions is to be undertaken this year, Leinster Council delegates heard at Monday night’s convention in Tullamore. The review will incorporate the involvement of third-level colleges in pre-season competitions in all provinces, and a look at the timing of the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups will also be undertaken …” (more)

[Colm Keys, Independent, 3 March]

“GAA regulations on burn-out were criticised at yesterday’s official launch of the Allianz GAA National Football League, which is the association’s longest-running intercounty sponsorship. Three high-profile managers and a former All-Ireland winning captain all queried whether the close season and restrictions on the use of college players were having the desired effect …” (more)

[Sean Moran, Irish Times, 2 February]