Mikey Kiely, double Fitzgibbon Cup champion and 2023 Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Rising Star Hurling Player of the Year, landed another award as he was conferred with a BSc in Physical Education from University of Limerick.
Mikey, from Dungarvan in County Waterford, graduated from UL’s Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, joining over 3,500 students being conferred this week as part of the University’s Autumn Conferring Ceremonies.
Studying at UL was “always the plan” for Mikey, who plays his club hurling with Abbeyside and is a rising star at county level.
“My brother was playing in a community games tournament in UL, years ago … I think I was only eight. From that moment on, I was kind of in awe of the place. I had it in my head from then that I wanted to go to UL,” he recalls.
Mikey’s student experience certainly lived up to his expectations. He thoroughly enjoyed his course, particularly the work placement element which, he says, gave him a real insight into what a career as a teacher would be like.
“With this course you would know straight away whether you would be into teaching or not,” he explains.
“From the very first year, we got to go into primary schools for an hour to practice some of our teaching or fundamental movement skills. I got a buzz straight away; I loved it.”
Mikey’s participation with UL GAA also played a major role in his experience at the University. He joins an elite group of athletes who can boast back-to-back Fitzgibbon Cup victories (2021/22 and 2022/23), and his four-goal tally in this year’s final cemented his hero status in UL history.
Reflecting upon the past four years, Mikey is grateful for the wonderful friendships and memories made through his involvement with the club: “I went to hurling training in first year not knowing anyone, but I was lucky – the first training session is where I got to make all my friends, and they’re still my friends now.”
As Mikey takes the next step as a P.E. and maths teacher in his native Waterford, he shares his words of wisdom for those about to start their UL journey: “There are people there to help you from every angle, no matter what it is; whether it’s academic or related to sport or anything outside of it, UL will do anything they can to help you.
“If I had my time all over again – and I wish I did have my time all over again, I wouldn’t think of studying anywhere else!”