DONEGAL GAA and Letterkenny Institute of Technology today launched a partnership with LyIT officially confirmed as the lifestyle and education partner of CLG Dhún na nGall.
The organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will forge a link between the two for the next three years.
In 2014 and 2015, Declan Bonner’s Donegal Minor teams used the facilities and expertise at LyIT.
Of late, Donegal football and hurling teams have been assisted by students at LyIT in the areas of strength and conditioning, fitness testing and nutrition.
Picture caption: Group picture at today’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Donegal GAA and Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Picture by Geraldine Diver.
Paul Hannigan, the President of LyIT, called it ‘a very important day for the Institute and for Donegal GAA’.
Donegal senior football captain Michael Murphy and team-mates Karl Lacey and Neil Gallagher were in attendance, as was the joint captain of the Donegal minor team, Niall O’Donnell.
[adrotate group=”43″]Lacey is on the staff at LyIT, while Gallagher has returned to engineering studies at the Port Road campus.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the collaboration between the organisations over the next three years.
“The key roles of both within the county cannot be underestimated and that’s why we’ve formed the partnership, so we can further develop the people and the communities,” Donegal GAA Chairman Sean Dunnion said.
“We are partners through co-operation. We wish to develop our capacities together.
[adrotate group=”53″]“The partnership will assist each of us to deliver on own objectives. This relationship has been developing over a number of years informally, but over the last nine months an awful lot of work had been done to bring us to a point where we have a formal understanding going forward.”
Mr Dunnion spoke about how impressed the GAA hierarchy at Croke Park have been by the venture.
LyIT will have their logo embossed on the back of the training gear of the Donegal Development teams from now on.
Mr Dunnion said: “It is envisaged that this will act as connecting point with a large portion of the public.
“It is in our interest to keep our players and members at home in the county.
[adrotate group=”37″]“The mission of Letterkenny Institute of Technology corresponds with what we’d like to see – as many payers being educated at home in the county. That would make life easier for everyone.
“This memorandum of understanding means that LyIT will provide us with a top class menu of services that we can avail of with the sports performance lab and the staff expertise that are here in the Institute.
“We have found them extremely valuable and useful. It is tremendous to have these services on our doorstep.
“This is a win-win for both organisations.”
[adrotate group=”38″]LyIT currently offer a Higher Certificate in Sports Studies and a BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching and Performance as CAO offerings and a Certificate in Principles of Sports Nutrition as a part-time offering.
This MoU will allow various inter-county teams and development squads to avail of these facilities. LYIT will provide a mix of performance/functional testing, general/technical workshops and access to teaching and campus facilities.
[adrotate group=”68″]In addition, recognising that it is important to look after players off the field, education scholarships and lifestyle/employability planning seminars for either full-time or part-time courses at LYIT will be awarded to Donegal intercounty players for the forthcoming three years. This is a positive development for CLG Dhún na nGall, as it is enabling career development for these athletes.
Speaking about this development, Karl Lacey, the former Footballer of the Year, said: “It is a really positive advancement to see this agreement being developed between LYIT and the Donegal County Board.
“Due to the current level of performance expected of an intercounty player, it is great to have the opportunity to avail of state-of-the-art sports facilities at LYIT. “Due to recent investment in their new sports laboratory, LYIT’s facilities are as good as any I have seen throughout the country.
“I believe all players will hugely welcome the addition of the LYIT education scholarships. It provides an intercounty player, be it minor or senior, an opportunity to study locally, either at a degree or postgraduate level, allowing them the opportunity to develop a career whilst still being able to train and play for Donegal.
“This agreement now makes it easier to juggle both”.
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