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. Quality and Qualifications Ireland, a State agency, can grant awards in other institutions directly, or delegate the authority to do so. 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 Irish Universities’ Association (IUA) is the representative body of the eight universities within the Republic of Ireland and is based at NUI offices in Merrion Square, Dublin. It is a non-profit-making body. In 1972, the five Heads of the universities in Ireland at that time decided to establish a conference to provide a forum for joint action on matters of common concern. The Association was created in the late 1970s as the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU) and formally incorporated in 1997 with charitable status and adopted its current name in 2005.
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 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 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 2017 Bord na Móna Walsh Cup was the 55th staging of the Walsh Cup since its establishment in 1954. Kilkenny won their 20th title after a 0-20 to 0-18 win against Galway in the final on 5 February.
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.
The 2019 Fitzgibbon Cup was the 103rd staging of the Fitzgibbon Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1912. It was 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 5 December 2018. It started with the group stage on 20 January 2019 and is scheduled to end on 23 February 2019.
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.
Calum Lyons is an Irish hurler who plays for Waterford Intermediate Championship club Ballyduff Lower and at inter-county level with the Waterford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a Right Wing-Back.
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 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 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is due to be the 136th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament, since its establishment in 1887. The championship is planned to begin in April 2023 and end on 23 July 2023.
The 2023 Sigerson Cup was the 110th staging of the Sigerson Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1910. It was sponsored by Electric Ireland, and known as the Electric Ireland HE GAA Sigerson Cup for sponsorship purposes. The draw for the group stage fixtures took place on 14 December 2022. The cup ran from 10 January to 16 February 2023.
University of Limerick (8th title)
University of Galway