Setanta College

Setanta College is a distance learning college, with a focus on sports courses. It offers internationally accredited undergraduate qualifications, ranging from Higher Certificate to Master's degree. The college is primarily web-based, but also offers campus-based courses in conjunction with LIT Tipperary in Ireland ^[2] and University of South Wales in Wales. The college has been popular among top-level and professional sporting individuals.

History

Setanta College was founded by Dr. Liam Hennessy BA, MSc, PhD,FRAMI,^[3] a former international Pole Vault competitor and record holder.^[4] Dr. Hennessy is an Exercise Physiologist and Strength and conditioning coach who is also published in scientific journals^[5][6] and has worked with some of the top athletes and sports teams in the world, including leading European soccer club teams in Italy,^[7] and Germany,^[8][9] the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU),^[10] the Irish Olympic Team,^[11][12] Tipperary GAA,^[13] and as Fitness coach to three time major golfer Pádraig Harrington.^[14] Through his own work, Dr. Hennessy noticed a need for better qualified experts in the area of Strength & Conditioning, and for that reason, he designed a course that would concentrate on this area of expertise.

Other Courses

Setanta College has designed and operates/ facilitates courses for the Irish National Teachers' Organisation and the International Rugby Board. For the INTO Setanta College offers a summer course filled with fun co-operative mini games for the 8–12-year-old "PE at the heart of an Integrated Curriculum".^[15] The Setanta College facilitated IRB Strength & Conditioning Level 1 course, is offered worldwide to Rugby coaches and Trainers online.^[16]

Education Partners

• Gaelic Players Association (GPA)^[17]
• Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO)^[18]
• LIT Tipperary^[19]
• International Rugby Board (IRB)^[20]
• Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)^[21]
• Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA)
• Irish Amateur Weightlifting Association (IAWLA)^[22]
• Titleist Performance Institute (TPI)^[23]
• The Irish Institute of Sport, a subsidiary of the Irish Sports Council, the state agency for sports development.
• Saracens F.C.
• Pádraig Harrington – Ambassador of the college
• Football Association of Ireland^[24]
• Irish Wheelchair Association-Sport

Alumni

Graduates include:

• Tommy Dunne – former Tipperary GAA hurling player and captain, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winner 2001.
• Tommy Carr – former Dublin GAA Gaelic Football player and manager, also former football manager of Roscommon GAA and Cavan GAA.
• Mick Dempsey – former Laois GAA footballer and current member of management team for the all-conquering Kilkenny GAA hurling team.
• Declan Meehan – Former Galway GAA Gaelic Footballer, winner of 2 All-Ireland Senior Football Championships and 2 GAA GPA All Stars Awards.
• Johnny O'Connor – Irish International and Connacht Rugby player. Also previously played with London Wasps
• Nicholas Walsh – Former Cavan GAA Gaelic Footballer and Melbourne Football Club Australian rules football player. Current coach of Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL team ^[25]
• Gavin Duffy – Irish International and Connacht Rugby Rugby Union player. Also previously played with Harlequins.^[26][27]
• Joe Gamble - Former Reading F.C. and Republic of Ireland international Soccer player.
• Liam Kearns – Former Limerick GAA and Laois GAA Gaelic Football manager
• Gavin O'Mahony – Limerick GAA Hurler.
• Derek Lyng – Kilkenny GAA Hurler and winner of 6 All-Irelands and 2 All-star award, current member of management team for Kilkenny GAA hurling team.
• BJ Botha - Munster Rugby and South Africa rugby player. Previously Ulster Rugby and Sharks. 2007 Rugby World Cup winner
• Aaron Dundon - Leinster Rugby player
• Marcus Horan - Former Munster Rugby and Irish International rugby union player.
• Charlie Hodgson - Saracens F.C., England and British and Irish Lions rugby player. Previously Sale Sharks
• Michael Clegg - Former Manchester United F.C. player and current Sunderland A.F.C. coach

Notable Current Students

• Gillian Ryan – Irish Triathlete
• Enda Gormley – Former Derry GAA footballer, All-Ireland winner and 2 time All-star award recipient.
• Denis Leamy – Former Munster Rugby and Irish International rugby union player.
• Alan Quinlan – Former Munster Rugby and Irish International rugby union player.
• Robert Heffernan – Olympics race walker and current 50k World Champion
• Darren Hudson - Bristol Rugby player, previously Leinster Rugby
• James Coughlan - Pau rugby player, previously Munster Rugby
• Ian Keatley - Munster Rugby and Irish Rugby player. Previously Connacht Rugby and Leinster Rugby
• Eoghan Grace - Irish 7s international rugby player
• Mark McCrea - Ireland A international rugby player
• Louis Ludik - Ulster Rugby player. Previously Agen, Lions and Sharks
• Cian Bohane - Munster Rugby player
• Chris Ashton - Saracens F.C. rugby player and Dual-code rugby international for England Rugby League and England Rugby Union. Previously Wigan Warriors and Northampton Saints
• Aaron Jarvis - Ospreys and Wales rugby player. Previously Bath Rugby
• Sam Warburton - Cardiff Blues, Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby player
• Brian Doherty - Irish international and Royal Beerschot (Belgium) professional Field hockey player.
• Max Sorensen - Irish international and The Hills C.C. cricket player.

External links

• Official Website

References