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Danielle McManus is graduating today with a BSc in Sport, Physical Activity, and Health from Ulster University. Her final year saw her achieve a lifelong dream and lift an All-Ireland trophy with the University’s ladies Gaelic football team at the Magee campus.

A Fermanagh native Danielle has always had a great love for sport and began playing football at the age of seven. She now plays for her county and says her decision to study at Ulster University was influenced by her ability to combine two things she is passionate about, sport and health.

“I love sport and I enjoyed PE at school. I’ve always been interested in health promotion and this degree has allowed me to incorporate the two.”

Gaelic football has always played a key role in Danielle’s life and this remained the same throughout her time at university. She began playing with the ladies’ team in first year and says winning an All-Ireland medal was a childhood ambition.

Danielle said:

“This was an amazing year and we had such a great team, all of whom are very supportive of each other. I also loved having the opportunity to play with girls from different counties who I could learn from.”

During her degree Danielle completed a placement year with Action Cancer in Belfast which allowed her to put her learning into practice and deliver health checks to the public across Northern Ireland.

In the future, Danielle would love to work in health promotion with an organisation like the NHS. She also really enjoyed her time studying in Derry/Londonderry and loved how welcome she was made to feel by everyone she encountered.

“I had a brilliant student experience in Derry. It’s a lovely city and everyone knows everyone. I can’t recommend it enough!”