Murphy collects FAI Communication Award for Dundalk FC miscellany

Blackrock’s Jim Murphy was honoured for his publication on Dundalk FC ‘C’mon the town’ at the FAI’s AGM in Athlone on Friday night.

The unofficial club historian picked up an FAI Communication Award from FAI president Paddy McCaul and CEO John Delaney for Best Club Publication.

Murphy released the book last November as a follow-up to his History of Dundalk FC publication 10 years earlier.

The book is a statistical and photographical history of the club and comprises stats, photographs, memorabilia, player profiles and stories from the club’s 88-season record in the League of Ireland.

It is a full-colour publication, containing 380 A4 pages printed on gloss paper.

The book can still be purchased from Oriel Park and other local book shops. All proceeds from the book went towards the club.

Dundalk IT and Dundalk FC combine to offer third level scholarships to budding talents

Denis Cummins, president Dundalk IT; Stephen Kenny, Dundalk FC manager; Martin O’Neill, Ireland senior manager and Ciaran Bond, Dundalk FC chairman at the launch of the new Dundalk IT-Dundalk FC partnership in Abbotstown this afternoon

Dundalk IT president Denis Cummins and Dundalk FC Chairman Ciaran Bond this afternoon launched a Soccer Scholarship Academy, which will provide third level scholarships to students of Dundalk IT who will also be attached to Dundalk FC.

The scheme is aimed at those CAO candidates who wish to pursue a third level education whilst simultaneously pursuing a professional soccer playing career at the highest level in Ireland.

DkIT will offer a total of four soccer scholarships each year to both Leaving Certificate students and mature students. A successful candidate’s performance will be assessed annually, under both academic and soccer performance criteria, across the duration of their academic programme. They will also assist as student ambassadors on college open days and in school recruitment initiatives as well as playing on the college teams.

The scheme is timely given the purchase of the Dundalk IT sport facility, due to open in September, where players can avail of the gym and facilities allowing them to continue with strength and conditioning training on campus. The partnership will be further endorsed when the DKIT logo is added to the back of both the ‘home’ and ‘away’ Dundalk first team players’ shirts this season.

Speaking at the launch at the Abbotstown National Sports Campus in Dublin on Monday, Denis Cummins said that he is delighted the college is in a position to create opportunities for footballers to pursue their careers whilst fulfilling their academic potential.

Dundalk FC chairman Ciaran Bond expressed his support for the initiative saying that the scheme is in keeping with Dundalk IT’s and Dundalk FC’s shared philosophy of contributing to the betterment of the economic and social life of the North-East region.

The launch was attended by Ireland football manager Martin O’Neill and FAI President Paddy McCaul, who welcomed the partnership initiative and praised Dundalk for their progress in recent times.

Dundalk FC to launch partnership with Dundalk IT on Monday

Dundalk FC will be holding the launch of their new partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology on Monday.

The Dundalk FC/DKIT partnership launch will take place at the FAI headquarters in Abbotstown in Dublin and a number of dignitaries and special guests will be in attendance.

The link will be formally launched by FAI President Paddy McCaul and Republic of Ireland first-team manager Martin O’Neill with full details on the partnership being revealed on the day.

Speaking at the event will be Dundalk FC chairman Ciaran Bond, Denis Cummins (DKIT), Paddy McCaul (FAI) and Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny.