Following on from the success of the announcement of the first batch of Education Champion Scholarships last year, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Irish American Partnership (the Partnership) are delighted to announce the 2026 cohort of recipients. 32 inter-county players, one from each county in Ireland, have been selected, continuing a programme that has now supported 64 players over two years.
The Education Champion Scholarships were established twelve months ago, providing $128,000 in scholarships to inter-county players, focused on the importance of careers in education, over a four-year period. This initiative between the GPA and the Partnership builds on a long-standing relationship between the two organisations.
This year’s recipients are student teachers and those pursuing postgraduate studies to further their careers in education.
Speaking to mark the announcement, GPA CEO Tom Parsons said; “We have 300 teachers in our membership who pursue their professional careers alongside their elite sporting activities. Not alone are they role-models on the field of play, they are also role-models in their classrooms, school and communities. They play a major role in the development of young people across the country.
“That is why we are so happy to support these teachers and those pursuing the path to become teachers and I thank the Irish American Partnership for their support and the funding provided.”
President & CEO, Mary Sugrue said; “These scholarships reflect the very heart of what the Irish American Partnership was founded to do, invest in the next generation of Irish leaders. In just two years, 64 players from all 32 counties have benefited from this programme, teachers who carry Ireland’s culture and values into classrooms every day. The GPA shares our conviction that sport and education are not competing ambitions, they are complementary ones, and together we are building something that will last.”
Education Champion Scholar and Mayo footballer Bob Touhy welcomed the investment in developing young teachers; “The support that the Irish American Partnership provides is significant and helps reduce the financial pressure, which allows me to focus on my academic and professional development, alongside my inter-county playing commitments. The scholarship will help me make the most of my training as a primary teacher and better prepare me for a future career in education, where I hope to make a positive impact on children’s learning and development.
“There are a lot of inter-county players who are passionate about careers in education and building strong foundations for our young people, so we are grateful for the welcome support like this from the Partnership which helps to elevate recognition of teachers and their impact on communities across Ireland.
The scholarships have been awarded on a 50:50 female to male basis and across the 4 codes. The full list of these recipients is:
| Mens Football | |
| Shea Magill | Armagh |
| Caolán McColgan | Donegal |
| Lorcan O’Dell | Dublin |
| Armin Heinrich | Kerry |
| Peter Lynch | Louth |
| Bob Touhy | Mayo |
| Thomas Hughes | Monaghan |
| Conor Carroll | Roscommon |
| Senan Baker | Westmeath |
| Hurling | |
| John Cooney | Galway |
| David Blanchfield | Kilkenny |
| Ronan Courtney | Longford |
| Thomas Cawley | Sligo |
| Kieran Bennett | Waterford |
| Jon Nolan | Carlow |
| Cathal O’Neill | Limerick |
| Womens Football | |
| Ana Mulholland | Antrim |
| Deirbhile Lynch | Cavan |
| Dara Kiniry | Cork |
| Anna Donnelly | Derry |
| Niamh McManus | Fermanagh |
| Anna Dunlea | Kildare |
| Sarah Reynolds | Leitrim |
| Emma Cronin | Tipperary |
| Sarah Evans | Wicklow |
| Camogie | |
| Maeve Millea | Clare |
| Gerra McGrattan | Down |
| Alice Walsh | Laois |
| Katie Mulchrone | Meath |
| Orlagh Phelan | Offaly |
| Mollie O’Hanlon | Tyrone |
| Keeva Steadmond | Wexford |
| Eimear Heffernan | Tipperary |
