Clare students honoured at NUI Galway sports awards

TWO Clare people have been honoured at the NUI Galway annual sports awards.
Ollie O’Flaherty from Lahinch, one of the country’s most consistent surfers in recent years, has been presented with the surfing award.
He was part of the Irish team that finished eighth at last year’s European Championships and he followed his runner-up spot in the 2009 Intervarsity Championships with a win in this year’s edition. Fifth at last year’s national championships, Ollie’s choice of course Earth and Ocean Sciences complements his passion for surfing.
Jose Ramirez from Scariff has been presented with the club’s captain award. He is captain of the Muay Thai club and he shares the award with David O’Reilly Healy from the snow sports club. Jose is a second-year arts student.
The NUI Galway Awards were presented at a special ceremony last week in the Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway.
It was a successful year for NUI Galway sport that included many international caps for students, a Fitzgibbon Cup win in hurling and a narrow loss in the Collingwood Cup for soccer.
Speaking at the presentation, Mary O’Riordan, vice-president for the Student Experience at NUI Galway, said, “Each year, NUI Galway recognises the outstanding contribution of individual student athletes across many diverse sporting disciplines for their achievements in sport. This year’s awards ceremony has been extended to reflect not only the achievements of individual students but also the contribution of the sports clubs to campus life and the importance of participation by all students in sport and recreation.”