PESS

25/08/2026

🎓 Congratulations to our PESS Graduating Students of 2026! 🎓

Tomorrow marks a huge milestone for our students across PESS and the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences.

A very special congratulations to our graduates in:
🎓 BSc Exercise & Health Fitness Management
🎓 BSc Sport & Exercise Sciences
🎓 BSc Physical Education

After years of hard work, learning, placements, practical experiences and plenty of memories, the day has finally arrived! 💚

We are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved and excited to see where your next chapter takes you.

Congratulations, Class of 2026 — go make your mark! 🎓💚

25/08/2026

🎓 Inaugural Lecture: Professor Adrian Bauman

The Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAfH) and the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences are delighted to invite you to Professor Adrian Bauman’s inaugural lecture.

📖 Commercial determinants and influences on physical activity and sport: are they the same as other commercial determinants of health?

Professor Bauman is an internationally recognised public health researcher with over 40 years’ experience in prevention, health promotion and physical activity research.

📅 Thursday, 3 September 2026
🕛 12:00–2:00pm
📍 PESS, Room P1033

The lecture and workshop will explore the emerging field of commercial influences on physical activity and sport, including the role that commercial actors play in participation, the environment and policy.

⚠️ Spaces are limited. Register your interest by Friday, 28 August 2026

Register Interest here (Link in Bio): https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=JLmEALQ6FkGSUZk59pXlTNZ7kWqIN0xBouK3eQngxrFUMDNITDEySUFCM002WEM4MVBEQk5CSzAyNS4u

25/08/2026

🎓 Congratulations to our PESS Graduating Class of 2026! 🎓

Tomorrow marks a huge milestone for our students across PESS and the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences.

A very special congratulations to our graduates in:

🎓 BSc Exercise & Health Fitness
🎓 BSc Exercise & Health Fitness Management
🎓 BSc Sport & Exercise Sciences
🎓 BSc Physical Education

After years of hard work, learning, placements, practical experiences and plenty of memories, the day has finally arrived! 💚

We are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved and excited to see where your next chapter takes you.

Congratulations, Class of 2026 — go make your mark! 🎓💚

25/08/2026

A new publication featuring PESS researcher Dr Philip E. Kearney has been published in the Journal of Sports Sciences.

“Principles of talent identification in sport: The Talent Identification and Development Environments in Sport (TIDES) Society position statement” brings together international expertise to outline key principles for talent identification and development in sport.

👏 Congratulations to Dr Philip E. Kearney and all co-authors on this important contribution to the field.

📖 Read the full article:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2026.2705709

24/08/2026

🎓 From Chemistry to High-Performance Sport 🏃‍♂️

In this latest PESS Blog, Gianni Ciappara, MSc Sports Performance graduate, reflects on his journey from chemistry into the world of high-performance sport.

Discover how the MSc Sports Performance programme helped Gianni develop his knowledge, skills and experience and take the next step towards a career in sports performance.

📖 Read the full blog:
https://pess.blog/2026/08/22/from-chemistry-to-high-performance-sport-my-experience-with-the-msc-sports-performance-programme/

🎓 Interested in the MSc Sports Performance? Find out more:
https://www.ul.ie/study/postgraduate/sports-performance-msc

24/08/2026

From Chemistry to High-Performance Sport: My Experience with the MSc Sports Performance Programme

My name is Gianni Ciappara, and I’m originally from Malta. I recently graduated from the MSc Sports Performance programme at UL with first class honours, and currently work as the Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for male junior rowers at St Michael’s Rowing Club, as well as the Lead Endurance Performance Coach at ATLAS High Performance. Sport has been a major part of my life for over 13 years....

My name is Gianni Ciappara, and I’m originally from Malta. I recently graduated from the MSc Sports Performance programme at UL with first class honours, and currently work as the Lead Strength &am…

21/08/2026

Registration Now Open | PAfH Summer Research School 2026 📢

Join us this August for the Physical Activity for Health (PAfH) Summer Research School 2026, hosted by the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (PESS), University of Limerick.

📅 26–27 August 2026
📍 PESS, University of Limerick

The two-day event will bring together researchers, postgraduate students and practitioners to explore the latest developments in physical activity and health through:

🔹 Leading researchers
🔹 Invited guest speakers
🔹 Networking opportunities
🔹 Face-to-face learning

Whether you're an early career researcher, postgraduate student or established academic, the PAfH Summer Research School offers an excellent opportunity to learn, connect and collaborate with colleagues working across the field of physical activity and health.

🎟️ Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/physical-activity-for-health-pafhresearch-school-26-27-august-tickets-1989818454562

For more information, please contact:
📧 Justyna Lis – [email protected]
📧 Catherine Woods – [email protected]

We look forward to welcoming you to the University of Limerick this August!

19/08/2026

New Publication 📚👏

Congratulations to PESS researchers Gráinne Hayes, Alan Donnelly, and Luis Sigcha on their latest publication in JMIR Formative Research.

This new research contributes to the growing body of evidence in digital health and technology, highlighting PESS's continued commitment to impactful, interdisciplinary research.

📖 Read the full article here: https://formative.jmir.org/2026/1/e85991

18/08/2026

PESS PhD researcher Graham O'Brien recently presented his research at the 44th International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS) Conference at Loughborough University.

His presentation, "Evaluating the accuracy of an inertial measurement unit system for temporal sprint parameters," showcases ongoing research in biomechanics and performance analysis, contributing to advancements in the measurement and understanding of sprint performance.

Congratulations to Graham on representing PESS and the University of Limerick on the international stage.