Whether you’re a born-and-bred GAA-head or a frisbee fanatic, with 31 sports to choose from there’s something here for you in DCU. From rugby to rock climbing, a chance to represent that DCU badge is truly an honour.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the specific sports DCU has to offer:
Rugby
Credits: Stephen Kisbey Green/ DCU Clubs & Socs
A sport that is defined by the three sacred C’s: craic, cans and a severe lack of cardio. These heavy-hitting brutes will happily run through a brick wall if there’s even a slight mention of a few ‘sticks of Heinomite’. The aerodynamics of a rugby player should be a study in itself. How can a 140 kg human with a luscious flowing mullet reach up to speeds of 90 miles an hour? Not to mention the initiations… As a matter of fact, let’s not mention the initiations. A few words from Neal Osbourne: “The three sacred C’s are not to be messed with. Especially the cans. Win, lose or draw – the cans will be there for you.”
GAA
Credits: Kyran O’Brien/DCU Communications
These lads travel in flocks. The level of conversation doesn’t stray far from, ‘Ah did you see Johnny Fitz played a stormer on the weekend?’ or ‘How’s your team doing in championship laaad?’ Heading into the DCU sauna at any time during the day? Forget about it. No matter when you go, you’ll be faced by 9 jocks staring down at you, white O’ Neill’s shorts wedged halfway up a place best left unmentioned. Walking around the college campus with their headphones in and their club gear bag big enough to fit 3 months’ worth of clothes blaring the 2 Johnnies podcast or G stands for Geezer. Just before I finish off this paragraph, you wouldn’t happen to have a Coppers gold card, would ye?
Camogie
Credits: Camogie Association
These hurley-swinging warriors rule the halls of the St. Pat’s campus. These ladies will casually shatter a hurl over your head in a match and then share a laugh over a chicken fillet roll in the Spar afterward. In the social scene, the fellas better have brought their dancing shoes because you’re not leaving the Ryan’s dance floor without a jive. Planning a holiday this summer with a camogie player? Don’t even bother, they’ve already blown all their budget on hostels and lifts down to Wexford for Fleadh Ceoil 2025. Now a few words from a player whose name wished to be left a secret: “Well I’ve only been playing it two years and it’s a weapon of a sport is all I gotta say, come home bruised to the nines really.”
Surf n’ Sail
Credits: DCU Clubs & Socs
There’s an unfair stigma that all surfers are stoners, and that’s not true. Some are alcoholics too. Whether they are out on the waves hanging ten, or simply hanging their heads over the toilet bowl, their legacy will forever be embedded in the heart of Bundoran. In the wise words of ex-surf captain Conn, ‘There’s no better place to make friends for life than in the freezing Atlantic with a soul-destroying hangover and less than an hour sleep.’ To further add to these words of wisdom, Cpt. Tiernan Carroll added, “and when you finally manage to stand up on that board, all your fear from last Friday’s antics, all your overdue assignments and all those 9AM lectures you’ve missed this semester gets washed away.” (Along with everyone else).
Ultimate Frisbee
Credits: DCU Clubs & Socs
You’ll often hear frisbee players describe their sport as a mix of basketball, American football, and gymnastics, but honestly, it’s more like a slightly competitive game of fetch, and the only one getting excited about it is the dog. Like everyone who plays frisbee, their love for the sport was discovered in aisle three of Decathlon when they were 9. It won’t be long until the teams head down to Limerick – ‘the home of Frisbee’ – for competitions. So why not take a stab at it? Finn McElwaine added, “Ah, Frisbee, where a gentle breeze to everyone else on campus is a ‘force 10 gale’ to a Frisbee player, and you’ll often spot them on the field desperately chasing a rogue disc that’s been carried off to Bray by the wind.”
Soccer
Credits: DCU Clubs & Socs
These lads live for the thrill of nutmegging their mate in a 5-a-side game, followed by shouting, “LADDD, sit down!” loud enough for everyone within a 2km radius to hear. Slide tackles fly faster than their assignments get submitted, and every free kick is approached with the swagger of Ronaldo… only for it to land somewhere in Finglas. A casual glance at their group chat reveals a never-ending stream of FIFA memes, football GIFs, and voice notes complaining about Chelsea’s transfer policy.
Boxing
Credits: DCU Facebook
Finding a valuable candidate for an interview was merely impossible as 95% of the club was suffering from a concussion, the other 5% were found strolling down Ballymun throwing shapes and doing the McGregor Walk. You’ll always know you’re in the presence of a boxer, because they will hit you with an ‘oots, oots’ dodge and weave mid conversation. A few words from Dylan Little: “We may not be the best ‘party sport’ but after weeks of eating nothing but cracker crumbs found in the press to make weight, two pints will have us in a state that costs the rugby lads their week’s wages.”
Table tennis
Credits: DCU Clubs & Socs
There’s no point even arguing about this, my points will just end up going back and forth.
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