Fresh from producing three counties in the All Ireland Quarter Finals, Ulster GAA has announced the extension of a sponsorship programme with the University of Ulster for adult students of the Irish language.
The Gaeilge sa Chlub (or ‘Irish in the Club’) scholarship scheme will run again in partnership with the School of Irish Language and Literature at the University on it’s Belfast, Cookstown and Magee campuses.
The aim of the programme is to promote the use of Irish within clubs throughout Ulster by providing financial assistance to GAA members who sign up for a Diploma in Irish Language course.
Last year, 21 adult GAA members availed of scholarships to undertake university Irish courses running for three months in the autumn and three months in the spring.
“This scholarship scheme represents an investment in GAA volunteers at grassroots level and will enable many people to achieve a university qualification in Irish, developing their own career prospects and enriching their clubs and communities,” said Martin McAviney, President of Ulster GAA.
“It is also a welcome opportunity to extend our partnership with the University of Ulster.”
“The increased level of support for 2014/15 will enable more GAA members to participate in our new blended programme, maximising the possibilities of traditional teaching methods and digital technologies,” added Dr Malachy O’Neill, Head of School of Irish Language and Literature at the University of Ulster.
The GAA has a strong relationship with third level education establishments across the country and a new commercial sponsor of the Sigerson Cup played by the colleges is thought to be close.
