The latest issue of Trinity Today is the longest and most feature-packed issue of Trinity's alumni magazine ever featuring celebrations galore, from Trinity Business School turning 100 to the Lir Academy celebrating its 15th year of inspiring Ireland’s theatre-makers. The 2025 issue also celebrates a bumper crop of sporting achivements includig the remarkable sporting stories of Trinity alumni Lee Pearson and Peter Sherrard as well as sporting highlights from club, events and campaigns throught the 2024-25 academic year.
‘Women in Sport’ wins international gender equality award
Trinity’s ‘Women in Sport’ campaign winning the Project Award at the 9th Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) Gender Equality Awards was also highlighted in 'Alumni & Campus News'. The Gender Equality Project award recognises outstanding projects that contribute to fostering gender equality and creating more inclusive environments within university sports worldwide. ‘This is an incredible recognition of the work we have done, aligning with the four pillars of Sport Ireland’s campaign,’ said Niamh Digby Bratton, Club Operations & Development Manager, Trinity Sport shown above. ‘We now have a female chairperson elected by our students for the first time ever and this is really encouraging too.’
Lee Pearson's winning legacy
A central feature of the latest issue of Trinity Todays is a profile of Trinity sport scholar and Trinity Sportsperson of the Year 2025 Lee Pearson, whose leadership as captain of Trinity’s Senior Men’s Gaelic Football team culminated in the College’s first All-Ireland Division 2 League title since 2012. The article traces Lee's journey from his sporting upbringing in Co Offaly to becoming a key leader within both Trinity GAA and the Offaly senior football setup, exploring how Lee balanced the demands of a joint degree in Economics and French with elite-level Gaelic football, while playing a central role in the revival of Trinity’s men’s football programme.
Through reflections on his family influences, collegiate experience, and intercounty career, the piece highlights Lee’s approach to leadership and personal development. Lee spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing sport and study, noting that “balancing sport and studies isn’t meant to be easy,” and emphasising the importance of support systems including his sport scholarship in navigating that journey.
His perspective on captaincy was also central with Lee explaining that leadership is a shared responsibility and that “being a captain is made easier when you have a dressing room full of leaders." Lee concluded with a reflection on his legacy at Trinity, both on and off the pitch. Looking back on his student-athlete experience, he underlined the importance of contribution and continuity, stating that “ultimately, it’s about leaving the jersey in a better place than when you got it.”
Sporting club highlights
The bumper issue of Trinity Today also featuring highlights from Trinity Sport’s events and campaigns as well as our sports clubs, reflecting on a year of remarkable progress and celebrating the achievements of individuals, teams and clubs including:
- Basketball’s historic season where the Varsity Women’s team completed an unbeaten league and Varsity double and earning Team of the Year honours at both the Trinity Sport Awards and the Student Sport Ireland Awards
- Hockey celebrated a year of impressive campaigns including women's teams winning the Jacqui Potter Shield and the Div 9/10 Leinster Cup and, off the field, raising €2000 for Women's Aid
- Trinity Sailing also recorded a landmark year, reclaiming the IUSA Intervarsities title and reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity through initiatives such as the ‘Women at the Helm’ programme
- Trinity Fencing enjoyed a dominant season, retaining the Frank Russell Cup, achieving national titles, qualifying for European competition and earning Club of the Year honours
- The Senior Men’s Gaelic Football team captured their first league title since 2012 after a dramatic comeback
- Trinity Boxing marked a new era while celebrating head coach Dan Curran’s 30 years of leadership, earning him Coach of the Year
- Trinity Rowing secured multiple trophies at Colours, Trinity, and Cork Regattas, and Trinity Hockey enjoyed strong league performances while raising significant funds for charitable causes
Trinity Sport campaign and events highlights
Trinity Today also highlighted Trinity Sport’s major events and initiatives with highlights including the Sports Scholarship Awards, which celebrated 73 student athletes across 21 sports and reaffirmed Trinity’s commitment to supporting high performance in both sport and academics. A central theme of the year was progress in gender equality through the ‘Women in Sport’ campaign. Launched in 2024, the initiative delivered significant increases in female participation, leadership representation and coaching development, alongside targeted grant funding and increased visibility of women’s sport. The campaign’s impact was further recognised through a shortlist nomination for the FISU Gender Equality Award 2025.
Trinity also marked its historic contribution to Irish rugby by partnering with the IRFU to celebrate 150 years of the sport, highlighting the university’s foundational role through DUFC and its enduring relationship with Irish rugby. Community engagement was further strengthened through Trinity on the Move, which brought staff, students and alumni together to raise funds for the Student Hardship Fund through inclusive physical activity.
The Trinity Business Summit connected sport and business leadership under the theme “Leading for Good,” raising significant funds to support Trinity Access students, while the Trinity Sports Awards 2025 concluded the year by honouring exceptional individuals and achievements across the sporting community.
Peter Sherrard
The issue also featured an interview with Trinity alumnus Peter Sherrard, BA (1998), tracing his athletics journey from running in track sandals to steering the Olympic Federation of Ireland and how he has reshaped Irish Olympic sport, driving unity, reform, and historic triumphs on the global stage.
Read the Trinity Today alumni magazine 2025 issue to read the full stories