Sports scholarship award for Shinrone rugby player

Shinrone native Fionn Carney is one of five students who have received a Mary Immaculate College (MIC) Elite Sports Scholarship Scheme, in recognition of outstanding sporting achievements.

The Munster Rugby Academy player, has represented Munster at U19 level and is now part of the province's sub-academy. He also plays AIL rugby with Cashel RFC and was recently selected for the Ireland U20 squad for their November fixtures against South Africa.

At only 19, Fionn is establishing himself as a powerful emerging talent in Irish rugby, balancing his studies at MIC with elite performance commitments.

Now in its sixth year, MIC’s Elite Sports Scholarship, honouring the legacy of former staff members and sporting icons Noreen Lynch and Leonard Enright, continues to champion students who have achieved excellence in their sport.

These scholarships are designed to help recipients balance the demands of their academic work with their sporting ambitions.

Congratulating this year’s awardees on their achievement, Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President of Academic Affairs at MIC, said:

“I warmly congratulate this year’s MIC Elite Sports Scholars. As ever, the calibre of this year’s sporting ambassadors has been outstanding. Our talented awardees have proven their sporting excellence at inter-county, national and international levels, with two All-Ireland winners among them. They have also dedicated themselves wholly to achieving academic success at MIC, and balancing the two commitments is no easy task. So, we are delighted to offer our support to such worthy recipients.“

Clare senior hurler, Adam Hogan, Kerry ladies footballer, Aoife Dillan, Wexford FC soccer player Michael McCarthy and Tipperary camogie player Lucy Purcell were also awarded scholarships for the 25/26 academic year.