News

UCC has officially announced its Sports Scholarship Recipients for the 2025/26 academic year.

This year’s programme highlights talented student athletes across a diverse range of sports, including athletics, basketball, hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, swimming, GAA, and golf. There were 103 students awarded.

The scholarship recipients hail from ten counties—Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Kerry, Mayo, Laois, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick, and Offaly—and are recognised for their outstanding athletic ability and unwavering commitment to sport.

UCC athletics had 40 athletes compete in the Inter-varsity Cross Country Championships in Tymon Park, Dublin on Saturday. It was a very successful day for the club with both the men’s and women’s Team securing silver medals in their respective races.

Are you interested in organising recreational football on campus next year? We are currently seeking applications for the Third Level FAI/UCC Student Activator Programme for the 2025/26 academic year.

Munster GAA Bursaries for UCC Students – Applications Now Open

University College Cork (UCC) is excited to welcome all students to the annual Clubs Day on the 18th of September, a highlight of Freshers Week, taking place at The Hub and across the main campus. This vibrant event, organised under the leadership of Tomasz Mrowca, Clubs Executive President at UCC, is set to showcase the diverse range of over 45 clubs available to students.

A very successful July for our UCC Clubs as documented by the new Clubs Executive PRO Anna Hernan. For more content check out the UCC Sport Instagram page.

It’s another All-Ireland Final day next Sunday August 10th as Ger Manley and his Cork squad attempt to win 3 championships in a row when Cork takes on Galway in the All-Ireland Camogie Final.

On Sunday July 27^th 82,000 people will watch the All-Ireland Senior Football Final when Kerry takes on Donegal in Croke Park. Another unique occasion that will have the interest of thousands more around the world in great places like New York City, Dubai, Melbourne, Cape Town or wherever Irish people and their friends gather.

Great news coming from Norway at the weekend where UCC sports scholar Eimear Maher came 3^rd in the European U23 1,500m Championship final.

We spoke to UCC GAA Development Officer, John Grainger, to preview the All-Ireland final and to ask him for tickets...

Student Sport Ireland Names 22 Strong Team to Compete at the World University Games.

The World University Games, organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), are a prestigious international multi-sport event held every two years. This celebration of university sports and culture draws thousands of student-athletes from around the world to compete in a variety of disciplines.

Trevor Woods, a seasoned sports and exercise physiologist from University College Cork (UCC), delivered a gutsy performance to claim the silver medal in the highly competitive 55–59 Open Age Group at the 2025 World Triathlon Cross Triathlon Championships.

Calling All Aspiring Female Coaches: Join the Women’s Student Coaching Academy!

Are you a female student with a passion for sport and the drive to coach at the highest level? Whether you're a seasoned coach or just starting out, the Women’s Student Coaching Academy (WSCA) is your gateway to an empowering journey of development, support, and opportunity.

UCC Rowing had a fantastic semester two this year. Read more to find out about their specific results. 

Celebrating the Dr T. A. Neville UCC Rugby Referee Bursary

University College Cork (UCC) is pleased to announce that the UCC Sports Athletics Track will undergo a full resurfacing, with works scheduled to commence on 9th June 2025 by Tony Patterson Sportsgrounds Ltd. The project will continue throughout the coming months, representing a significant investment from UCC Students in the university’s sports infrastructure - following a referendum from the student body who voted to increase the student capitation fee by €50 to develop the outdoor sports facilities.

UCC Department of Sport and Physical Activity is proud to announce the opening of applications for the 25.26 UCC Sport Scholarships. Starting today, May 19th, aspiring student-athletes can apply for this prestigious scholarship programme, with the application window closing on September 3rd.

The annual Clubs and Societies Ball lit up the campus calendar once again, as students gathered for a night of glamour, celebration, and community spirit. Held on March 20th at the Rochestown Park Hotel, the event brought together members from over 45 student-led clubs to recognize their achievements and contributions over the past year.

UCC Sports Star Awards 2024-2025

• Sixteen recipients were honoured with UCC Sport Star Awards, with Olympic rower Margaret Cremen receiving the prestigious Supreme Sports Star of the Year title.
• Mark Mulcahy, coach of UCC Hockey’s Division 2 team, was named Coach of the Year, while UCC Rugby Club’s senior seconds claimed Team of the Year after their 2024 Munster Junior Cup victory.
• David Holmes was recognized with the Kieran Dowd Special Achievement Award for his exceptional dedication to Judo and sport at UCC.

To preview this year's UCC Sport Star Awards, we'll highlight some of the remarkable winners from previous years. Many extraordinary athletes and personalities have received a UCC Sport Star Award, and showcasing their achievements is a fantastic way to build excitement for the upcoming ceremony.

University College Cork (UCC) is set to feature prominently in today's Student Sport Ireland (SSI) rugby finals. Both the men's and women's teams have demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the season, leading them to these pivotal matches.​

For International Women’s Day, UCC Clubs Executive PRO Darragh Murphy caught up with some of our brilliant sporting women, who gave an insight into their sporting journeys, what they perceive as the main challenges for women in sport, and what they’d like to see for the future. Please see link for video: International Women's Day Video

This weekend the college senior Ladies Gaelic Football team head to Belfast to play in this year's O'Connor Cup. This competition is the women's version of the men's Sigerson Cup.

I'm overjoyed to share the success the club had this weekend in London with Women's Head. This was our first time fielding crews for this event and it certainly paid off! I attached some photos from the event. 

University College Cork (UCC) student Katie Bergin has made history by clinching the National Senior Indoor 200m title at the recent championships in Abbottstown, Dublin. Representing Moyne Athletic Club, Bergin's remarkable performance not only earned her a personal best time of 24.03 seconds but also marked the first-ever national senior indoor title in the club's 77-year history.

The highly anticipated Collingwood Cup kicked off on Monday, February 17th, delivering an action-packed day of university football with four thrilling matches.

This weekend the senior camogie team travel to Bekan in Co Mayo to play in the Ashbourne Cup. This competition is the most prestigious of tournaments for Third Level students and UCC have a proud record in the Ashbourne having won it on 31 occasions 

The oldest all-Ireland soccer competition is to be hosted on Leeside this year, as University College Cork has been announced as hosts of the 104^th Irish Universities Football Union (IUFU) Collingwood Cup.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sad passing of our former Head of Sport, Kieran Dowd.

Don't miss any important information on upcoming UCC Sport Scholarship dates. Make sure to maximize your potential with the incredible supports that we have on offer. 

Kick off 2025 with UCC Sport! From intervarsity competitions to GAA tournaments Fitzgibbon, Sigerson, Ashbourne and O'Connor Cups there's plenty to look forward to. Check out the full schedule and show your support for our teams!

On the 12th of November, UCC Dance held its annual charity showcase ‘So UCC Thinks It Can Dance’, in collaboration with the Psychology Society.

The Department of Sport and Physical Activity will be closed from the 24th of December to the 2nd of January for Christmas.

UCC's athlete makes history, earning a bronze medal at the WAKO Senior European Championships in Athens, a first for the university in Kick Light.

UCC's Jim White prepares to make history again as he represents Ireland in the 2024 Euro Footgolf Championship in Turkey.

UCC Women's Soccer Club have reached the Women’s Premier Division Third Level Colleges University Football League Final (WSCAI/CUFL).

Wednesday December 4th is a very important day for UCC GAA as three of our teams contest All Ireland League Finals in Dublin, in the same venue (DCU GAA Grounds) with two of those games being live streamed.

UCC Announces Sports Scholars for Year 2024-25

University College Cork unveiled its Sport Scholarship students for 2024/25 today. Student athletes from a wide variety of sports, including athletics, basketball, rugby, hockey, rowing, soccer, GAA and kickboxing are featured in this year’s programme.

Our intervarsities was a huge success - we placed in several categories, as well as winning the overall shield! 

If you want to learn more about becoming a UCC FAI Student Activator make sure to read on. 

Read on to find out more about Clubs Day. 

Read on to find out more about International Day of Student Sport

Click hear to find out more about the UCC R&A Golf Scholarship. 

Ahead of International Day of University Sport (September 20th) and European Week of Sport (September 23rd-30th), we would like to share with you some information about this year’s Find Your Team campaign:

Last week 3 UCC students: Adam Murphy, Andrew Sheehan and Rory Buckley, competed in the u23 World Rowing Championships.

As the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games begin this week, all at UCC extends our best wishes to Mary Fitzgerald as she competes on the world stage once again.

Make sure to check out UCC Summer of Success highlights.  

Applications close on the 18th of August - click here to find out more info: https://www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/all/alluccsch/uccschsports/

For the first time, UCC came away with the most championship wins of the weekend (6!).

On Sunday July 21^st the greatest day in Irish sport will be played out in Croke Park, Dublin when Cork meet Clare in the 2024 All Ireland Senior Hurling Final.

This summer, University College Cork (UCC) proudly showcases a diverse range of athletes competing on both national and international stages. Our talented students and alumni are representing UCC across various sporting disciplines, highlighting our commitment to excellence in sports.

The UCC DSPA in collaboration with the FAI, selected three Student activators to run recreational Soccer 7-aside leagues in UCC. 

Check out the photos to see who won at the UCC Clubs Awards 2024

UCC Club Awards Bene Merenti: Aimee Sheeran 

Read more to find about the UCC Soccer Internal 7 a-side League. 

Aplications are open for the annual Dr Elmer Morrissey Scholarship.  

Last weekend (10th - 11th February), UCC hosted the National Student Indoor Championships (NSIC) 2024 at the Mardyke Arena. We had over 180 archers from across Ireland competing, including 19 of our club members and coaches. 

This week I competed at the W.A.K.O World Kickboxing Championships in Albufeira, Portugal. With over 70 countries and 1670 athletes in attendance. Before the fighting began, I was honoured with the task of taking the Athlete’s “Fair play & Manipulation Oath” on stage at the opening ceremony of the championships, a great privilege.  

98 students across 18 sports have been awarded UCC Sports Scholarships for 2023-2024. The announcement was made at the launch of the 23.24 programmes at the UCC Sports Grounds in the Mardyke Pavilion on the 27^th of October.

Check out all you need to know about exciting things happening in UCC Sport

Check out all you need to know about UCC Clubs for the academic year ahead

• 12 athletes selected for UCC Sport Star awards and Kickboxing Champion Conor McGlinchey – selected as overall Sports Star awards.
• Billy Morgan and Brian Cuthbert celebrated as Coach of the year and UCC Ladies basketball team win team of the year.
• JB McCarthy honoured as Kieran Dowd Recipient for outstanding to Taekwondo and sport in UCC.

UCC SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE is approaching fast! Don't miss out, make sure you apply before closing deadline of 14th April 

Student Sport Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union are delighted to announce the full schedule for the finals of this years men’s and women’s rugby cup competitions, that will take place on March 15^th in University College Cork venues The Mardyke and The Farm. The host club University College Cork are hosting the finals day as part of their 150^th year celebrations of the clubs establishment, Student Sport Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union would like to thank them for the cooperation in organising this years finals.

82 students across 17 sports have been awarded UCC Sports Scholarships for 2022-2023. The announcement was made at the launch of the 22.23 programmes at the UCC Sports Grounds in the Mardyke Pavilion on the 24^{th of} November.

Deputy Head of Sport, Christine O Donovan and Exercise Physiologist, Trevor Woods were recognised for their 35 and 25 year, respectively, service to UCC and in particular to UCC Sport Physical Activity.
Both are the back bone to UCC Sport, always on hand to work with and assist students and clubs during their UCC journey.

UCC AFL had representation at the AFL European Championships earlier this month. For the first time since 2019, the European Championships made a return for 2022. The competition, was hosted from October 5-8 in Zagreb, Croatia, which capped off the AFL's year of international events.

• University College Cork will become the primary sponsor of Munster Hockey’s InterProvincial teams.

• Munster Hockey will have access to UCC’s world-class facilities at the Mardyke and the University’s cutting-edge expertise in sports science, high performance, nutrition, and sports psychology.

• UCC and Munster Hockey will collaborate on joint marketing initiatives.

Michael Bradley has been appointed UCC RFC’s new Head Coach, where he will head up an all-star coaching team that includes former Irish internationals Ken O’Connell and Paul McCarty, and ex-Munster fly-half Scott Deasy.

The GAA’s Student Bursary scheme funds are allocated by its Provincial Councils. Some elements of the Bursary scheme are common across the provinces; other elements are left to their discretion.

Adam Duane, captain of UCC Powerlifting, and Mia Kovacs have been selected to represent Ireland at the Junior World Championships and European Championships respectively.

University College Cork Sport is using SportsKey’s sports facility management software to help maximise the use of their sports facilities and get more people playing sport in Cork.

Of the six Irish crews that won medals at the World Rowing Cup in Poznan, four contained UCC students or alumni.

UCC Canoe Club have won Student Sport Ireland’s Event of the Year Award after hosting the organising the 2021-22 Irish Kayaking Intervarsities. 

UCC wishes to appoint an experienced Head Coach to the Department of Sport and Physical Activity.

Sponsored by the River Lee Hotel and Bank of Ireland, the UCC Sport Awards acknowledged the achievements of 19 outstanding student-athletes who have excelled with their UCC clubs, external clubs and representative teams in the last twelve months. 

University College Cork (UCC) is among six Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) around Ireland that have been awarded the Sport Ireland Institute Accreditation for Student Athlete Support (ASAS), which recognises good practice in ‘dual career’ support for student athletes.

UCC Sport is pleased to receive nominations for the 2022 Sports Star Awards

UCC Clubs and Societies Awards took place in the Rochestown Park Hotel on Thursday evening. Club of the Year, Event of the Year and Bene Merenti were just some of the awards being presented on the night. 

UCC Aussie Rules women's team travelled to Paris last week to compete in a tournament (Gallia Cup) which consisted of teams from across the continent. 

Are you an engineering student? Do you have a lust for life and all it entails? Would you like a cheque for €1,500?

If the answer to these questions is yes then read on...it could make a huge difference to your UCC experience.

Come join us on Wednesday 2nd February 2022

University College Cork is delighted to confirm the appointment of two-time World Champion and three-time Olympian Sanita Puspure as UCC Sport’s new head coach for rowing.

On Sunday , 3 October 2021, UCC senior football team take on Duhallow in the Cork County Senior Football Championship. Following on from a victory over Muskerry on Wednesday on a score line of 2.13 to 2.11, college now play for the right to advance to the quarter finals of this year’s championship

Student Sport Ireland (SSI), the representative body for higher education sport in Ireland, has published its new strategic plan that will guide the organisation’s growth and development over the next three years. 

UCC senior hurlers as well as their senior football team will finally get their 2021 Cork county senior hurling and football campaigns up and running this week. First up tomorrow, Tuesday 28 Sept 2021 are the hurling team who play Imokilly in Pairc Ui Rinn at 7.30pm. This game is being streamed live by the excellent service provided by The Irish Examiner Sport website. Just log on to the site and click on the link.

FAI, Cork City Council, UCC & Cork Sports Partnership are delighted to launch a new FREE Walking Football Programme in the Mardyke Sports Grounds this September.

This Sunday, 12 Sept 2021, in Croke Park, Dublin the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final between Cork and Galway will take place.

It is one of the major occasions in this country for female sport and with an increased spectator capacity and atmosphere , Sunday will see the best of talent take part in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior finals.