The National University of Ireland (NUI) is a federal university system of constituent universities and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.
The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), the legal successor to the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), granted higher education awards in Ireland beyond the university system from 2001 to 2012. HETAC was created in 2001, subject to the policies of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, and, specifically, granted qualifications at many Institutes of Technology and other colleges. HETAC was dissolved and its functions were passed to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on 6 November 2012.
Third-level education in the Republic of Ireland includes all education after second-level, encompassing higher education in universities and colleges and further education on Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) and other courses. The degree-awarding institutions which can grant awards at all academic levels are the University of Dublin, National University of Ireland, University of Limerick, Dublin City University, Technological University Dublin, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Munster Technological University and Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, as well as St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, and then a State agency, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, can grant awards in other institutions directly, or delegate the authority to do so. and University of Limerick. The King's Inns of Dublin has a limited role in education specialising in the preparation of candidates for the degree of barrister-at-law to practice as barristers. Medical schools in Ireland also have particular regulation. There were seven establishments of higher education within Ireland ranked among the top 500 universities worldwide by the Times Higher Education Supplement in 2008.
The Fitzgibbon Cup is the trophy for the premier hurling championship among higher education institutions in Ireland.
Dublin City University Gaelic Athletic Association Club is the GAA club at Dublin City University. The club fields teams in men's Gaelic football, hurling, ladies' Gaelic football and camogie. It also organises Gaelic handball. The club mainly competes in intervarsity competitions such as the Sigerson Cup, the Fitzgibbon Cup, the O'Connor Cup and the Ashbourne Cup. DCU has also entered competitions organised by the Leinster GAA, including the O'Byrne Cup, the Kehoe Cup and Walsh Cup. In 2016 St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra merged with Dublin City University. As a result some DCU GAA teams, especially reserve teams, compete as DCU St Patrick's or DCU Dóchas Éireann.
The Trench Cup is the second tier Gaelic football championship trophy for Third Level Education Colleges, Institutes of Technology and Universities in Ireland and England. The Trench Cup Championship is administered by Comhairle Ard Oideachais, the Gaelic Athletic Association's Higher Education Council.
The Ashbourne Cup is an Irish camogie tournament played each year to determine the national champion university or third level college. The Ashbourne Cup is the highest division in inter-collegiate camogie. The competition features many of the current stars of the game and is sometimes known as the 'Olympics of Camogie' because of the disproportionate number of All Star and All-Ireland elite level players who participate each year Since 1972 it has been administered by the Higher Education committee of the Camogie Association.
The 2010 Ashbourne Cup inter-collegiate camogie championship was staged at the Cork IT sports complex in Bishopstown, Cork over the weekend of 20–21 February. It was won by Waterford Institute of Technology who defeated University College Cork in the final by two points, a repeat of the pairing and result, though not the margin of victory, of the 1999 final. Player of the tournament was WIT's Katrina Parrock.
The 2011 Ashbourne Cup inter-collegiate camogie championship was staged at the NUIG sports complex in Dangan, Galway over the weekend of February 19–20 with the finals in Pearse Stadium, Salthill. It was won by Waterford Institute of Technology who defeated University College Cork in the final by eight points, a repeat of the pairing and result, though not the margin of victory, of the 1999 final and 2010 final. Player of the tournament was WIT's Katrina Parrock.
The 2012 Ashbourne Cup inter-collegiate camogie championship was staged at the Waterford IT sports complex in Carraiganore over the weekend of 18–19 February. It was won for the fourth time in succession by Waterford Institute of Technology, after defeating University of Limerick in the final by ten points after UL's semi-final victory over Waterford's opponents in the 2010 and 2011 finals. Player of the tournament was WIT's Katrina Parrock.
The Fergal Maher Cup is a hurling cup competition for Third-level Colleges. The Cup is awarded to the winners of the Tier 3 Championship.
The Ryan Cup is the tier 2 hurling championship for third level colleges, the Fitzgibbon Cup being the tier 1 hurling championship trophy. The Ryan Cup competition is administered by Comhairle Ard Oideachais Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (CLG), the GAA's Higher Education Council.
Patrick Curran is an Irish hurler who plays for Waterford Championship club Dungarvan and at inter-county level with the Waterford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a full-forward.
The 2018 Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup was the 102nd staging of the Fitzgibbon Cup since its establishment in 1912. In the final on 24 February, the University of Limerick defeated DCU by 2-21 to 2-15.
Robert Byrne is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Senior Championship club Portroe and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. He usually lines out on the bench.
The 2020 Fitzgibbon Cup was the 104th staging of the Fitzgibbon Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1912. It is sponsored by Electric Ireland, and known as the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup for sponsorship purposes. The draw for the group stage fixtures took place on 4 December 2019. The 2020 Fitzgibbon Cup started with the group stage on 12 January 2020 and ended on 12 February 2020.
The 2020 Sigerson Cup was the 110th staging of the Sigerson Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1911. It was sponsored by Electric Ireland, and known as the Electric Ireland HE GAA Sigerson Cup for sponsorship purposes.
The 1999 Fitzgibbon Cup was the 86th staging of the Fitzgibbon Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1912. The first-round games were held on 30 January 1999, with Garda Síochána College hosting the latter stages of the cup from 27 to 28 February 1999.
The 2022 Fitzgibbon Cup was the 105th staging of the Fitzgibbon Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1912. It is sponsored by Electric Ireland, and known as the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup for sponsorship purposes. The draw for the group stage fixtures took place on 14 December 2020. The 2022 Fitzgibbon Cup started with the group stage on 19 January 2022 and ended on 19 February 2022.
The 2023 Fitzgibbon Cup is scheduled to be the 106th staging of the Fitzgibbon Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1912. It is sponsored by Electric Ireland, and known as the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup for sponsorship purposes. The draw for the group stage fixtures took place on 14 December 2022. The cup is scheduled to run from 18 January to 18 February 2023.
UCC (39th title)
Mary Immaculate College 
Evan Niland (0-54)