Dundalk IT GAA scholar Tara Renaghan's path to success

Dundalk Institute of Technology Event Management with Marketing student Tara Renaghan is from Clontibret in County Monaghan.

The 20-year-old was initially drawn to DkIT because of the short commute and the combination of event management and marketing in her chosen course, opening up a wide number of career paths.

READ NEXT: Louth archers went north to test their ability in Flint and 300 Rounds

“The two combined seemed ideal, you can go into a variety of roles and sectors. Marketing is a huge aspect of every business, and particularly when you’re running an event, it’s a key part to getting the word out,” according to Tara.

The support offered through a GAA scholarship was another major factor in Tara’s decision to choose DkIT.

As a scholar, she has the option to receive additional academic support when needed, including help catching up on coursework missed due to matches and other sporting commitments, as well as access to expert guidance and top-class sports facilities.

“There is an in-house physio, so we’re seen very quickly if we have an injury, and the strength and conditioning programme has really helped me grow as a player,” says Tara.

In comparison to friends who would soon become teammates, Tara was a late starter to the world of Gaelic at age 11, however she wasn’t long in demonstrating her talent.

With gymnastics, karate, swimming and camogie all on her list of sports, she had a skillset that really stood out on the football field.

Just three years after beginning her football journey with the O’Neills Shamrocks, full back Tara was selected from the Under 14 county trials and appointed captain in the same year.

She progressed through the county ranks to the senior level, where she played for two years. Tara currently plays with the DkIT Senior Team and O’Neills Shamrocks, though she has stepped back slightly to focus on college and placement.

She credits playing at a senior level from such a young age as a key driver of her success. “I was playing with people at a higher level and thinking I need to get better - it gave me that extra push,” she says.

Being a DkIT sports scholar is another major motivator for Tara, encouraging her to lead by example and represent both the college and football.

Strength and conditioning are a vital part of her training, and having access to it on campus helps her balance college and home commitments.

Tara also credits her dad for introducing her to football and helping her develop the skills she showed so early on. “We used to fist pass and kick pass - he was the one who encouraged me to get out on the field,” she says.

With an impressive list of achievements to her name — including U14 Ulster Schools A champion, an U16 Ulster final appearance with Monaghan Ladies, Minor (U18) Ulster and All-Ireland B titles, and an Ulster Schools All-Star in 2024 - Tara has gone from strength to strength.

One achievement that stands out in particular is winning the All-Ireland Final in her final year of secondary school.

“Our school had reached the Ulster Final five years in a row against Loreto Cavan. Finally, we won and then went on to claim the All-Ireland title - it was incredible. To be the team that got over the line and left that legacy was just amazing.”

Beyond her on-field success, Tara values the friendships she has formed through GAA, noting that it has connected her with people from all over the country who share the same passion for the sport.

Her Event Management and Marketing course at DkIT has also helped her build strong connections with classmates, and she is really enjoying the variety of the course, particularly modules such as Event Industry Operations.

Growing up in a family pub, she is no stranger to the hospitality industry, constantly helping to organise anniversaries, birthday parties and other events and has also grabbed many opportunities to gain practical event experience.

Looking to the future, the ultimate goal for Tara would be to play for Monaghan in an All-Ireland final at Croke Park.

In her career, she imagines working for a large multinational and even fancies the idea of starting her own events or marketing company someday - the possibilities are endless.

Learn more about sports scholarships at DkIT: https://www.dkit.ie/offices/admissions/grants-scholarships/sports