'Athlone wasn’t my first choice, but it turned out to be the perfect fit’
Ahead of the CAO closing on July 1, third-level student David Hughes from Kilmaine, Co. Mayo, looks back on his CAO experience. When filling out his CAO form, TUS Athlone wasn’t his first choice, but it turned out to be the perfect fit.
Initially, David had his heart set on a different course further down the country: “I was looking at another course and university, but I quickly realised the environment wasn’t right for me.”
“I wasn’t very social in secondary school, but I knew I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone. Athlone provided the right balance of social and academic life for me,” he explains. “It’s perfect – not too small, not too big, a great place to socialise and meet new people.”
However, David’s decision to study Sports Science with Exercise Physiology wasn’t without reservations. “I think the word ‘science’ in sports science made me think of subjects I struggled with in secondary school, like maths and biology,” he recalled. "But once I started, I realised the modules were very practical and tailored to sports, which made them much more manageable and interesting.”
His journey through TUS Athlone proved to be transformative: “Meeting new friends and finding the right environment made all the difference. The course offers a mix of strength and conditioning, sports psychology, rehab, and physio. Plus, the personal relationships with classmates and lecturers are fantastic.”
A standout experience for David was his internship with Connacht GAA during his third year. “I worked as the main strength and conditioning coach with the Mayo senior hurlers and academy teams. It confirmed my passion for strength and conditioning and improved my communication skills and self-confidence,” he said.
David now works as a strength and conditioning coach with the Mayo GAA Senior Football Team and Garrymore Senior Football Club and is a fitness trainer at The Movement Gym in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
However, his university journey wasn’t without its challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic hit during his first year, disrupting the social aspect he was looking forward to. “It was a curveball, but it taught me resilience and how to use technology more effectively. The lecturers were incredibly supportive, especially when I faced personal challenges."
David also credits the support he received through the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) programme, which he described as "brilliant."
Looking back, David feels TUS Athlone was the right choice. “The practical approach of the course and the supportive environment made all the difference. I knew I wanted to work in sport from an early age, and this course gave me the skills and confidence to pursue my passion.”
David advises future students to embrace the experience and not be afraid to ask questions. “If you don’t know something, ask. It’s better to ask and learn than to stay silent and miss out. I know when I was younger I found that hard, myself, but don’t be afraid to stick your neck out and ask, because the only silly question is the one you don’t ask.”