ONE THING IRELAND definitely isn’t short of is educational establishments and most, though not all, possess pretty decent gym and sports facilities.
Last week we brought you inside the gyms of a smattering of universities. Now it’s the turn of the ITs.
We’ve taken a look at six from around Ireland, and picked what we think they score well in, and don’t do so well in. So if you’re still mulling over your CAO choices, take a look at what’s on offer.
Cork Institute of Technology
CIT’s campuses are scattered throughout Cork city but all we’re interested in is the sports facilities.
In a word, they’re excellent and could claim to be up there with the best in the country. The fact Cork City, Munster Rugby, and a host of other elite teams use them only supports that claim.
What’s cool? They love nothing more than a good bursary or scholarship in CIT and last month, they gave out over 100 to budding stars from across 17 sports.
And if you think it’s just GAA, think again. There was rugby, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, camogie, hockey, horseracing, karate, ladies football, racquetball, rowing, rugby, sailing, and soccer.
Nice.
Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford definitely doesn’t get the pulses racing quite like a Dublin, Galway or Cork but there are certainly worse places to study.
So don’t despair if you’re heading there because outside of the college life, there’s quite a bit on offer in terms of sport.
First off, there are courses in Recreation and Sports Management, Sports Coaching and Performance as well as Exercise and Health studies and you’re not far from some stunning mountains and beaches for outdoorsy stuff.
What’s cool? An emphasis on sport here saw the Sports Campus open four years ago and there you’ll find three sand-based, fully floodlit GAA pitches, a 2k cross-country running track, the largest single all-weather surface in Europe, and all the usual stuff in their Cork Road fitness suite – which is a bit of a walk from the Sports Campus at Carriganore.
They’re the reigning Fitzgibbon Cup holders so you can imagine GAA is quite strong down there. Having Kilkenny close by has absolutely nothing to do with it…
Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology
GMIT was the winner of the Sunday Times Institute of Technology of the Year award for 2015.
Castlebar is often forgotten about, but, along with Galway, it forms a significant part of GMIT’s student body of some 6,500 students. There’s also another campus in the village of Letterfrack, set in the glorious wilds of Connemara. The Galway campus, however, is the largest and most active, with a particularly impressive college building.
What’s cool? It’s got a bit of everything, which is cool for a place that plays second fiddle to its crosstown neighbour NUI Galway. An indoor cricket court is surely a rarity in Ireland while the close ties with Connacht Rugby and Mervue United spreads the sporting emphasis a little wider. There’s a full-sized basketball court too in this sports-mad place.
Institute of Technology Carlow
Carlow really punches above its weight when it comes to sport but with such quality facilities it’s not difficult to understand.
They’ve a real focus on elite player development with close links to Leinster Rugby and the IRFU as well as the FAI. Little wonder that so many former students have gone on to play in the League of Ireland.
What cool? Check out these courses: Sport and Exercise (GAA), Sport and Exercise (Soccer), Sport and Exercise (Rugby), BSc (Hons) Sport Science, BSc (Hons) Sports Rehab and Athletic Therapy, HC in Physiology and Health Science.
Oh, and don’t forget the 4G floodlit pitch, the sand-based GAA and rugby pitches, the high performance gyms and sports science labs. For sports geeks, this is your playground.
Limerick Institute of Technology
Another Munster IT with a strong reputation for churning out All-Ireland medal winners. In the heart of the province it usually pulls in a truckload of Tipp, Clare, Galway and Cork’s finest to bolster their Fitzgibbon Cup Challenge. It might come as quite a shock that despite the players they’ve had, they’ve only won two titles, their last in 2007.
The fitness centre or ‘team conditioning suite’ is basic enough but ticks most boxes and the indoor facility allows for volleyball, badminton and basketball. However, no one will dispute it lags behind many of the others.
What’s cool? They’re incredibly generous when it comes to bursaries and scholarships across a range of sports. Between the college and the Munster Council upwards of 30 players get one, though hurling garners the majority.
Dublin Institute of Technology
Exciting times lie ahead for DIT as the programmes currently operating in the Cathal Brugha Street Campus, the Kevin Street Campus and part of the Rathmines Campus will transfer to two new structures known as the Central and East Quads off the North Circular Road near Grangegorman. That means it’s a spanking new facility.
What’s cool? The new campus, which already includes an all-weather football pitch, tennis courts, a gym, space for societies and a students’ union is expected to be fully operational this year, making it the newest campus in Ireland.
