It was a huge day for UL Wolves at this year’s prestigious SSI Awards,
with three major wins for our amazing students and clubs!
It was a huge day for UL Wolves at this year’s prestigious Student Sport Ireland Awards, with three major wins for our amazing students and clubs! These awards celebrate excellence, community, student-led achievement and the best in student sport in Ireland.
Performance Athlete of the Year - Róisín Ní Rían
Performance Athlete of the Year was awarded to Róisín Ní Rían, a world-class Paralympic swimmer in the S13 category. Representing UL Wolves and University of Limerick with distinction, Róisín delivered a stellar performance at the Paris Paralympics, winning silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 200m individual medley, along with two fourth-place finishes. With a total of 6 European and 4 World Championship medals, she continues to inspire as both an elite athlete and an ambassador for sport and inclusion. Her remarkable year has also seen her named Young Paralympian of the Year and RTÉ Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year.
Sports Club of the Year - UL Swim Club
UL Swim Club was awarded SSI Sports Club of the Year after a standout season. The club officially joined Swim Ireland and now has over 40 competitive swimmers and 214 total members. They achieved strong results at the Munster Championships and Irish Varsities, with several members chosen to compete internationally. The club also worked hard to promote inclusion, mental wellbeing, and leadership, offering adaptive training sessions and supporting students both in and out of the pool. UL Swim Club’s gold-standard approach to competitive sport and student engagement set them apart as true leaders in university sport.
Event of the Year - UL Kayak Club (Intervarsities 2025)
The Event of the Year Award went to the UL Kayak Club, who hosted the Irish Kayaking Intervarsities earlier this year. The event brought together 350 competitors from 13 universities and colleges, across five kayaking disciplines and four venues. The club introduced several new features including a custom-built boater-X ramp and new gender balance rules. The event was fully student-led and self-funded, with over 30 volunteers helping to make it a safe, inclusive, and memorable weekend. Their detailed handover guide and sustainable event model leave a lasting legacy for future student organisers.
These awards highlight the talent, dedication, and leadership of UL’s students, both in sport and in community-building. A massive congratulations to all the winners and nominees.
UL Wolves, under UL Student Life, supports over 70 student-run clubs and societies with more than 6,000 members. Clubs & Societies give students the chance to meet others, try something new, develop skills, and enjoy their time at university.
For more information about our Clubs & Societies, visit ulwolves.ie