Sheridan Bursary offers funding to young sports people from Mayo
Martin Sheridan throws the discus on his way to winning the event at the 1908 London Olympics. Picture: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
Applications for the 2024 Martin Sheridan Bursary Awards scheme are now officially open for relevant sporting bodies and organisations.
The Martin Sheridan Bursary is intended for sportspeople from Mayo who have excellent potential, outstanding ability and the desire to perform at the highest level possible in their chosen sport.
Mayo County Council has allocated the sum of €5,000 towards the Martin Sheridan Bursary Scheme.
Martin Sheridan was born in Bohola on March 28, 1881. At 18 years, he emigrated to America and joined the New York Police Department. He trained as part of the NYPD athletics team and qualified to represent the United States in the Olympic Games. Over a period of fourteen years, he won more Olympic medals than any other Irish athlete – five gold, three silver and one bronze. He also won twelve US championships and over 30 Canadian, metropolitan and regional championships. In the course of his career, he established sixteen world records in various disciplines, including shot putt and discus, and was considered virtually unbeatable.
Martin died at the age of 36 from a viral infection. In 1988, he was the first Irishman to be inducted into the prestigious National Track and Field Hall of Fame in Indianapolis. In Bohola today, the Sheridan Memorial Community Centre is dedicated to his memory along with a very impressive memorial, which stands in the grounds of the Community Centre.
An application for the Bursary must be made by a third party i.e. a sporting club or organisation on behalf of the nominee. Only one male and one female athlete may be nominated by a third party.
Each application will be assessed on an individual basis by the Sheridan Memorial Bursary Committee. Canvassing of any kind will immediately disqualify the applicant for consideration. Nominators should aim to put forward a complete and concise application for their chosen nominee.
The closing date for applications is Friday, May 10.
Forms and application criteria are available by email to martinsheridanbursary@gmail.com
