Sport Awards

My name is Erasmuns Adjei, I am studying Applied Business and entrepreneurship. I’m a professional Footballer currently playing for Newry City FC, My key achievements in football would definitely be making the Under 17s and Under 20s squad for Ghana and Captaining IADT Football Team to National Finals. Football has always given me a opportunity to showcase what i desire to pursue, it has also given me a place to not think about College or problems outside the pitch, once i step on to the pitch everything disappears and I know a lot of people can relate wether it’s football or another sport.

My name is Éilis O’Neill, I’m a 22 year old student studying animation at IADT. I’m currently in third year of my course and am still deeply involved in sports. I have been playing hockey since I was seven for Loreto Hockey club (as well as my school). Hockey has helped me gain confidence, learn teamwork and find the importance of dedication- all things I carry through to the rest of my life. The sense of structure sports brings to my life is so important to me and has acted as a constant through both the good and bad times of my life.

I compete in both team and individual sports, both which I think are important. Being surrounded by a team of fellow passionate girls gives me confidence in my life.
In college, I stay involved in college societies, being on the board of the Climbing society, and a member of the Running and Surf society. These spaces help give me the space to clear my head and meet other new people. It also allowed me to compete in competitions such as attending the a college taekwondo competition in Manchester with the Martial Arts Society and travel to Font with the Climbing Society.

As an art student I believe it’s extra important to allow yourself a space to keep active and give yourself another hobby than your college work. I am currently into the final of the Jaqui potter cup this year in hockey and the semi final of the Irish Junior Cup, two huge achievements of my sporting life. I have also won the Irish Leinster Cup and League in my school in 2020(as well as winning sportsperson of the year two years in a row at my secondary school). The people I have met and become friends with through sport is incredible and I will always be thankful for it. I have always played a wide variety of sports growing up, such as tennis, basketball, steeple chase and hurdles. I have had the privilege to represent my country in Basketball and compete in the all Irelands in athletics. I don’t think I would be who I am today without sports in my life.

I am a 1st year Business Management & Entrepreneurship Student. Sport is a major aspect of my life and I have been involved in many clubs such as Athletics, Gaelic Football, Mountain Biking and most notably Hurling.

I have played hurling since I was 5 years old. I spent the past few years consistently training. This has helped me to be apart of the Wicklow under 20 and Senior hurling teams.

Sport has contributed to my life in a positive. It gave me confidence and a routine. I have lived a healthy life thanks to sport. I often have to make sacrifices but this has just made me more disciplined.

Unfortunately when I came to IADT there was no GAA team. This was disappointing as it is a huge part of my life. I joined the football team but it wasn’t for me. I then realised that the only way I was going to get to play GAA in IADT was if I set it up the club myself. It was then that I found out about the students union clubs and societies funding, I applied for funding and started promoting the GAA around the college. It was a successful campaign as many students joined.

My name is Jonathan Masueme and I am currently studying business and entrepreneurship. I am currently in DL701 Year 3. The sport that I am currently playing football at the highest level in Ireland for Dundalk FC U-20. I am currently playing in the League of Ireland as an overage player. I have played football since I am 5 years old. I started off playing River valley AFC in the NDSL league. I started my trade over at this league winning the treble in my time there the only River valley team to do so. I then moved over to the DDSL to Malahide UTD and this is where it made me a better footballer and earned me a spot in the Kennedy cup squad and also an U-15 trial probably my best year as a footballer. Which ultimately earned me a move to Dundalk Fc where I currently play. I have won the U-17 League of Ireland which was one of my biggest achievement in the sport. I have played football all my life it is all I know a big part of me and my personality. I hope to go on and achieve more in the sport of football and will always thank IADT for supporting this.

I’m Oisín, a final year student in the 3D Design, Modelmaking & Digital Art course. I joined my local club, Leinster Taekwondo, around 13 years ago and haven’t once regretted it. It has been a huge part of my life and thanks to the support and teaching on and off the mats from my coaches Tom and Caroline, I have a number of achievements in the sport.

I’ve competed abroad at World and British Championship level multiple times – placing in the medals for both, and have represented IADT abroad at competitions and conferences. I reached my first degree Black Belt in 2019, grading top of my class.

It would be impossible to state just how much sport has contributed to my life, but training in Taekwondo has taught me discipline, given me many friendships and has pushed me so far out of my comfort zone – all things important for my day to day life. I owe so much to this sport and every opportunity it has given me, and I plan on continuing to grow as both a person and a competitor.

My name is Anika and I’m a 4th year student studying Design for Stage and Screen. I play volleyball three times a week, twice with my club Dalkey Devils, and once with the IADT Volleyball Club. At IADT I try my best to coach, run sessions and give tips where I can with the help of the amazing volleyball committee. With Dalkey Devils, we won the second-division league last year and have since moved up to the first division. While with IADT it’s more relaxed with mixed levels, that’s part of the beauty of volleyball, anyone at any level can enjoy the game and the better you get at it, the more fun it becomes. I was so excited to take a leading role as part of volleyball in IADT, I couldn’t wait to share my love for the sport with others. Playing a sport in college has been a great way to meet new people you may not usually bump into around campus too. Volleyball can be a very social sport as you have to communicate a lot with your team, I’ve new friends through it and am looking forward to meeting more. Volleyball previously had never been a very well-known sport in Ireland but it is currently growing exponentially around the country and I highly encourage anyone to get involved. There is a huge amount of diversity when it comes to the people who play volleyball in Ireland and now is the perfect time to join.

I am Jan Trejbal, 1st-year student of digital marketing from the Czech Republic. I am Czech U21 and Men’s national team field hockey player, currently competing for Railway Union Hockey Club. Previously, I had played for Waterford HC and HC 1972 Rakovnik. I’ve been an international player since the U16s, representing my national teams in both outdoor and indoor formats. I’ve also participated in the U21s Munster Interpros in Ireland. Playing field hockey and other sports have kept me fit, taught me teamwork, resilience, and time management, while also helping me make friends and handle setbacks.

My name is Jack Doyle, I’m a 3rd year student studying Business Management here in IADT. I began my rugby career with Terenure College RFC playing mini rugby, then progressed on to play in Terenure College School, competing in both the Leinster Junior Cup and Leinster Senior Cup and was lucky enough to be selected to play Leinster Schools representing U17’s and u18’s playing games against Munster, Ulster and Connacht and the USA. I then went on to play again for Terenure College RFC, where I captained our 20’s side to a league and cup win going undefeated! I am now pursuing to play AIL rugby with Terenure and I’m looking forward to the Challenge!

Rugby holds a lot of value in my life and has taught some key lessons and characteristics such as teamwork, respect, adaptability and resilience. The lessons and skills I’ve learnt has not only shaped my approach on how I play but has also shaped my outlook on life!

Rugby is inclusive and has a role for everyone and I would urge you to get involved not just for the health benefits but also the amazing friends you can make along the way!

My name is Stephen Taite Brown. I play football for Iadt’s football team and I am also a member of a local team called Tek Untied. I played school boy football for St Joseph’s boys where in my U18’s final year of school boy football, I was able to captain my team to the league title. In tek, I haven’t been so lucky, however we are a unit that are capable of achieving much in the future. For the Iadt team, I have played in my 1st year and now currently in my 2nd year. In 1st year, the team was a smashing success as we were able to win 17 matches in a row with no losses. Unfortunately though, we played in both a quarter-final and a semi-final where we suffered tow losses, bringing an end to our trophy dreams that year. In my 2nd year now, we haven’t been so prolific, however we are now in a final of a cup where we can hopefully achieve a trophy for our college.

My names Michaela O’Neill Johnson I am in my 4th and final year of studying New Media studies. I play both Rugby and GAA (football). I have always played sport from a young age, I started off playing football (soccer) for my local club with success winning league and cups and then when my local GAA club, Shankill made a Ladies team I joined from 2017 to present we won the championship after the first two years and moved up two divisions since. Over the past 2 years I started playing rugby and moved to Railway Union, a key achievement in rugby is making my AIL starts and playing at a high standard. Sport is an outlet for me and a positive impact in my life, from a young age it has allowed me to develop natural social skills and to learn how to work with people in a team. Most of all it’s something I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to doing, something I couldn’t live without and recommend to anyone to try.

My Name is Erasmuns Adjei, I’m currently studying Business Management and Entrepreneurship. I am a player for the IADT football team for the last two years and now playing professionally at Newry City FC in Nothern Ireland.

I signed my first professional contract in January and this is only the start of my career. Last year I won young player of the year for the IADT football team and I am a prospect to be captain next season.

Football is honestly my purpose for life, I breath football as it is all I desire to do. When I play or touch a ball I feel free and at peace.

I think that playing football you have to live a very disciplined life. You can’t eat what you want or drink what you want. So just by playing football has made me very disciplined in life.

In football I have reached two all-Ireland finals when I was 15 and 17 years of age, winning one aged 17. I have also met new friends for life just by playing the sport. I have also contributed to the IADT football team this year, playing in defence and reaching a quarter final and semi-final this year.

My name is John, a 4th year student studying Animation in IADT. I’ve been playing volleyball for about 2 years now. Since I started playing volleyball in 2020 after lockdown, I instantly fell in love with the sport. My friends and I took initiative to set up a volleyball club called ‘Carrick Crows’ in our local town which allowed us to compete in the national league. I am currently playing as setter in the Division 2 Men’s League.

My key achievements in volleyball is getting 2nd place in Division 2 last season, took 2nd runner in the Filipino league and getting into the quarterfinals in a mixed 4v4 beach and park tournaments.

Volleyball has heavily impacted my life, as it gave me a sport I enjoy with friends which keeps me in shape and it destresses me from college work.

My name is Seán Kelly, I’m 22, I’m from Offaly and I’m currently in my final year of the BA (Hons) Photography degree in IADT.

I have been practising Kickboxing since I was 10 years old. I spent all of my teenage years grading up the rank of Brown Belt (the belt before black) and competing on the Irish and international competition circuit, primarily in the WAKO disciplines (WAKO recently received full Olympic recognition and could be in the Olympic Games in future).

I have won several national titles and even world titles in the WOMAA organisation. While these titles are important, the martial art itself is more important to me. Without kickboxing, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

It gave me confidence, discipline and courage that have helped me in every aspect of my life and it has formed me into the person I am. And without kickboxing, I wouldn’t have discovered my love and passion for photography and I probably wouldn’t have come to IADT.

I discovered photography at kickboxing tournaments and used it as a way to kill time on long tournament days. I eventually built up a name as a kickboxing photographer at the age of around 17 or 18. I got to shoot events up to the very highest level, such as the WAKO World Kickboxing Championships in Jesolo, Venice, Italy in 2018, which I was also competing in and finished as a quarter finalist.

IADT MARSOC has been a very enjoyable part of my college experience and it has allowed me to make friends for life.

I am an Animation student at IADT who thinks it is important to have a balance between art and sports.

I am playing for Loreto Hockey club in the second highest division and am also attending basketball training with the D1 Tempelogue Ladies basketball team, as a former International player.

Hockey in particular has helped me a lot growing up as I had a space to get my energy out and mature with a team of other supportive girls. In school I was on the team that won the Irish Senior Cup as well as the Leinster Cup.

I don’t think I realised how big of an impact sport had on me until Covid, when team sports stopped. I really struggled and became very unmotivated in all my life. Before Covid, I was an avid runner and tennis player also, competing in the all Irelands for Hurdles and Steeple Chase.

Hockey has given me a good sense of structure, dedication and teamwork, all skills which I have been able to use in my day to day life. I also think it is sad that over 50% of girls drop sport in college and I believe it is due to lack of role models. That’s why the Irish Women’s Hockey team is such an important thing for me, as they placed second in the World Cup, as well as competing in the Olympics. In college, I try to stay involved in sports, being an avid member of the Bouldering Society and competing in Manchester with Martial Arts Society in 2022.

I am currently a 4th year Photography student. I have been doing ITF Taekwon-do for 15 years and am currently a second degree blackbelt. I am an instructor and an athlete, having been competing for almost a decade. I am also an internationally qualified umpire and centre referee along with being a qualified instructor.

I am the chief instructor of IADT MARSOC, which has evolved from a club and society to a government registered club. Some of my key achievements include, 3 gold from the ITFHQ 4 Nations Team Competition, fought in several world championships and European championships placing on podium positions at all events. I am on the Irish National Team and I have also been appointed the director and head coach of the Irish Varsity National Team – the IUTL.

Sport has contributed to my life immensely as it is responsible for my perseverance, integrity, self control and my attitude to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, challenging myself, all skills which translate to my day to day life.

My name is Oisín O’Sullivan, I’m a twenty year old student in my third year of the 3D Design, Modelmaking & Digital Art course at IADT, and have been training and competing in Taekwondo for over 12 years. I grew up in Arklow, Co. Wicklow and had an interest in sports from a young age, and tried all sorts of sports like football and hurling but never really stuck with anything. In 2011, when I was 8 – my brother’s friend was in a Karate class and I remember thinking how cool that was – and after we managed to convince our parents, along with my brother we joined the Leinster Taekwondo school and started training under coaches Tom Thornton and Caroline O’Sullivan. Immediately I loved the sport and trained up to 3 times a week. I competed at every competition taking place, and would place in the medals very frequently.

In late 2015 I was chosen to be on the Irish Squad for my first international competition – the T.K.D.I World Championships taking place in July 2016, but unfortunately I broke my foot in January. I overcame the injury just in time to train again and compete. Unfortunately again I broke my arm while leading my fight in the competition. None of these injuries shook me and I was back to training as soon as I could. In 2017 I competed in the British Championships, and placed 3rd for sparring. In 2018 I was chosen to compete in the TKDI World Championships again – I took on extra training to prepare and placed 3rd in sparring and 2nd for tag-team sparring.

I’ve competed in 2 All-Ireland Championships, placing in the medals in both – and won gold in the finals of the Leinster Championships after competing against my younger brother in the final.

In 2019, I graded for my 1st Dan Black Belt, and was graded by Grand Master David Oliver – I graded top of my class and was awarded Student of the Grading. While some see black belt as the end – it’s just the beginning of my journey.

When I started college at IADT I saw they had a Martial Arts Society. When societies could start up again after Covid measures were eased I joined straight away and was as active as I could be. I became treasurer and an assistant instructor in 2022, after I had the opportunity to complete an International Instructor’s course thanks to MARSOC. I represented the club and IADT at the BUTL Student World Championships where I narrowly missed out to a medal, and attended a BUTL conference with MARSOC. Thanks to this I’ve represented IADT and MARSOC internationally multiple times.

Taekwondo has been there for me no matter what I’ve been going through, and has taught me huge amounts of discipline, confidence, willpower & respect. I have made so many lifelong friends over the years. The person I have become can be credited to this amazing sport and my coaches Tom & Caroline.

I am a 4^th year Business Management & Entrepreneurship Student. I have been involved in sport all my life including athletics, hurling, football, Gaelic football, and badminton. Hurling has been my number one sport for the past few years and my greatest achievement has been representing Wicklow on the Senior County Hurling Team.

In 1^st year of college, I joined the IADT football team. This was a fantastic opportunity to meet new friends, represent the college and get involved in the social side of college life. That year I received an award for ‘Most Improved Player’. Fast forward to 4^th year and I am the captain of the football team, organising all the necessary administration, transport, and expenses of the team. This role has allowed me to improve my leadership skills while competing at a high level in the FAI college league and cup where we reached the cup semi-final. This year I received ‘Club Man of the Year’ and a Sports Scholarship for my dedication and commitment to Sport in IADT.

I would encourage any student in IADT, or any college, to get involved in sport in any shape or form. If the team doesn’t exist, the framework is there for you to establish your own club or society for your desired sport, with funding provided from the Students Union. It is a brilliant way to embrace college life, enjoy the social element and compete at a high level for your college. Sport in IADT has enhanced my experience at the college and gifted me a network of friends and contacts who I will stay connected with throughout my career. It’s more than sport at IADT, it’s a community!

My name is Michael Lambert, an IADT student, captain of IADT Surf Club studying Business in IADT’s DL823 course. I am an experienced surfer and I compete.

I am competing for a couple of years now. Recently on the 4/5th of March 2023 I competed in the National Surf Inter Varsity competition in Bundoran, the first year it had run since the pandemic. Unfortunately, I had been out of training before the competition due to an accident, my first heat in the competition being my first surf in a month. Previously in 2022 I placed 4th overall in the Mens Advanced shortboard competition which was an achievement for me.

My achievements outside of competitions are personal achievements, milestones such as getting barrelled for the first time on my birthday in 2019 and surfing bigger waves every winter season especially winter 2021/2022.

Surfing is my favourite thing to do, I pack my equipment in my car, sometimes with other surfers and head West before day breaks. Our wet and windy winter weather brings challenge but the reward of flying up and down the face of a large fast wave makes the journey all worth it
Surfing is an extremely difficult sport and takes time to become good at. Considering the time and money, physical and emotional investment I made in getting to where I want to be in the sport today, it was all worth it.
Surfing has also contributed to my life through IADT surf club. I revived the club in 2021 as I believe in sharing the sport with my fellow students.
Running IADT surf is challenging. I have sacrificed a lot of time/effort in sharing the positive experience. My equipment, transport, time, teaching knowledge have been the life support of IADT surf for the past few years. However it has contributed positively to my life in ways I never thought. Seeing students engage and benefit from the club constitutes as a positive in my life.

One student that joined the club and took up on all of the trips I offered since I started organising them in 2021 won 2nd place in her category in the intervarsity competition this weekend. Watching her put the effort as a beginner in 2021 and keeping with it since the beginning of IADT surf, winning a medal in the inter varsity competition was a rewarding experience for her, and indirectly for me.

She braved the early mornings, cold weather, long journeys. She never complained about how difficult surfing is and always tried her hardest. Being involved in her journey from beginning to her result in the varsities has been one of the best experiences of my life. She stands out as most dedicated and the highest achiever, but is not the only surf club student I have guided in their surfing journey, many becoming confident, competent surfers. The sport has spread in IADT, there now exists a surf community within iadt, forming friendships and creating an positive outlet for any student who wishes to partake.

I’m currently studying Business Management and I am in my final year. I am currently competing in rugby at AIL (all Ireland league) level and in summer international touch rugby, if all goes well.

I have played many sports such as hockey, sailing and athletics however my main sports are rugby, touch rugby and golf. We are currently in the cup final for AIL rugby and last year we won the cup. Sport is my whole life and always will be. It’s like a second family and I love playing every second.