ATU sports science students appointed Connacht GAA CDOs for 2026

Atlantic Technological University sports science students, who provide S&C coaching to ATU Galway's GAA teams (men and women), have secured nine paid, full-time work placements as Connacht GAA Club Development Officers, commencing in the new year.

With several other sports courses running around the country, this is seen as a major coup for Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and for the fourth-year sports science students who secured these positions following interviews.

Next year will mark the third of Connacht GAA’s Club Development Officer (CDO) initiative, which has provided coaching and assistance through the CDOs to 87 clubs across the province in its first two years.

The nine successful ATU students are: Sean Gilmore, Skehana/Mountbellew-Moylough, Galway; Robbie Meehan, Ballinderreen, Galway; Ciaran Donnellan, Caherlistrane, Galway; Grace Concannon, Dunmore, Galway; Orla Boyce, Kilmoremoy, Mayo; Jessica Neary, Ballina, Mayo; Conor Ryan, Kilmaine, Mayo; James Harrington, Bonniconlon, Mayo; and Laura Galligan, Cavan Gaels.

A 10th student, Jack Quinn, has secured a placement with Kerry minor footballers.

Delighted with the high number of ATU Galway students accepted to work as CDOs, ATU Galway Gaelic games development officer, Damien Coleman, said that the students will not just benefit from the experience, but will also secure further qualifications.

“The students are well looked after over a 39-hour week and they will also undertake a Connacht Award 1 Strength & Conditioning course, along with garda vetting, safeguarding and ICGG (Introduction to Coach Gaelic Games) foundation award,” Coleman explained.

“Placements are from February to June 2026, and the students will cater for all age groups in the club – from nursery programmes and child through to youth and adult. It will include primary schools coaching, Go Games and athletic development.

“Once they get all that on their CV, along with hopefully a glowing reference from the club, it will put them in a strong position when seeking further employment in their chosen field.”

Expressing a similar sentiment, sports development officer for ATU Galway, Molly Dunne, said the placements are a significant endorsement of ATU’s sports science programmes and the pilot initiative they put in place with their ATU Galway GAA teams in September 2024.

“Last year we ran a committed pilot programme (appointing sports science students to run the S&C with ATU Galway’s teams) and it was such a success, with many of the students becoming strong coaches. It has been huge for our teams, and we have now added video analysis placements to our ATU Galway sides this year as well. We are using what is available to us in the college to better all our teams.

“So it’s brilliant. The students can now take the practical learnings they receive at ATU, from their course and working with ATU teams, and put it into action with the club they go to, which is what it is about,” concluded the former Galway camogie All-Ireland senior winner and All-Star.

The cost of the coaches will be covered by Connacht GAA, the respective county boards, and the clubs. Connacht GAA coaching and games manager Cathal Cregg is delighted with the progress the scheme has made in such a brief period of time.

He stated: “You have so many moving parts in this. For something to truly work, you need collaboration and a lot of co-operation from all levels. You need that from club to county to province.”

Understandably, the ATU students are also overjoyed with their placements.

Orla Boyce commented: “I am working with the ladies Gaelic football team in ATU Galway. I do the warm-ups and the cooldowns and, even during the games, I warm up the subs and get them ready to go on.

“I have past experience of coaching, having done the Cúl Camps for four years in a row. That was a great experience. I have also helped with underage in my own club of Kilmoremoy LGFA. I do enjoy the coaching, so it is great to get this placement with Connacht GAA.”

Jessica Neary added: “Getting this placement with Connacht GAA is a big opportunity. I am looking forward to it. It has been a great experience working with the girls at ATU; they are all lovely and I have great time for the coaches. I am learning a lot of different skills with them as well. I do the warm-up and the cooldown, and then I work with the subs with their warm-up when they are getting ready to come on the field. I am enjoying it; I like it a lot.”

Conor Ryan said: “It is a progressive sports science course at ATU Galway because we are doing things that are relevant to what we will be doing with Connacht GAA. Also, if you want to get into S&C, you are learning about the muscles, you are learning about how things work, how to adapt to improve the athlete, and administer an exercise as a coach.

“As this is our fourth year, the course is tough enough, but we are keeping on top of it and it is good preparation for our placements.

“I am looking forward to the Connacht CDO role in February. It will be interesting – meeting different people, working with different age groups, and coaching them.”

James Harrington commented: “I am one of three students working with ATU Galway’s senior, junior and freshers hurlers. I like working with those teams and I am enjoying watching the games – I might have to bring it back home and start something up!

“It has been great learning to work with teams and getting that confidence to shout and use your voice, and to tell them what to do. You get to put what you have learned into real-life situations.

“The placement will be interesting. I am looking forward to starting it and getting stuck in.”