History made as Dermot Earley Bursary winners are announced
Aisling Hanly is presented with a Dermot Earley Bursary by the Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council Shane Tiernan and Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr John Cummins. Also pictured are family members, members and executive of Roscommon County Council.
The winners of the 2024 Dermot Earley Bursaries, named in honour of one of the county’s finest ever sportsmen, were announced last week. History was made at the awards this year when the first non-GAA recipient was presented with a bursary.
Aisling Hanly from Kilbride and Cormac Rynn from Derreenavoggy near Arigna were named this year’s winners at a ceremony in the chamber of Aras an Chontae. The initiative, now in its eleventh year, honours outstanding young men and women, not only for their sporting excellence but also for their potential in their chosen field. Each of the recipients receives a bursary of €1,000.
The scholarships afford financial assistance to two candidates, with a background in sport, residing in County Roscommon and attending their first year in Third Level education.
Aisling Hanly (19) from Kilbride is studying PE and Biology in DCU (Dublin City University). Her main sport is Gaelic football. She was the captain of the Roscommon Convent of Mercy team that won the All Ireland ‘B’ title last year. Her club is Kilbride who have won five in row senior county titles.
Aisling is also a member of the current Roscommon ladies intermediate team who have just secured promotion to Division 2 of the Ladies National Football League for 2025. She has also featured on the DCU first team, who won the third-level O’Connor Cup recently, the highest grade of football for third-level colleges.
Aisling’s achievements were recognised at the prestigious Roscommon Herald /SuperValu Sportstar awards where she won a Special Achievement Award. Her ambition is to win an All-Ireland intermediate title with Roscommon in the foreseeable future.
Cormac Rynn (18) from Derreenavoggy near Arigna is creating history this year as the first non-GAA recipient of a Dermot Earley Bursary. Cormac is a past pupil of Drumshanbo Vocational School where he achieved outstanding Leaving Cert results. He is currently attending University of Limerick (UL) where he is studying Biological and Chemical Sciences.
He is a member of the Trident Swim Club in Carrick-on-Shannon and is the current Connacht champion in a number of events, having medalled at national level on multiple occasions. His immediate aim is to make the national swim team and ultimately the Irish 2028 Olympic team.
Roscommon County Council established an annual sports bursary in honour of the late Dermot Earley in 2011. The former county football from Gorthaganny was renowned as one of the county’s greatest ever footballers. He was Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces from 2007 until 2010, prior to his untimely death in June of that year.
All applicants are invited to an interview and have to demonstrate the following criteria, namely, satisfactory academic ability, understanding sporting ability and achievements, leadership skills as well as presentation and communication skills.
This year’s award winners were commended for their successes by the Leas Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr John Cummins and the Chief Executive, Shane Tiernan. Both acknowledged the achievements of Aisling and Cormac and wished both recipients every success in their respective disciplines.
