Jack Daly – On the Road to Physiotherapy

At Portobello Institute, our mission is to make education accessible. However, that does not mean we are an alternative choice for further or higher education.

We pride ourselves on hiring the best lecturers, delivering the most up-to-date course material and, ultimately, ensuring our graduates are put in the best possible situation for future success, be it further study or going straight into the workforce.

While we offer a place for people returning to education to come and learn, upskill or change careers entirely, we also have a considerable number of students who come straight from their Leaving Cert.

For many of these students, Portobello was their first port of call, including BSc in Sports Therapy student, Jack Daly.

Jack is a native of Artane, Dublin and from a very young age sport was a factor, having played for St. Vincent’s GAA since the tender age of five. During his time in the nearby Ardscoil Rís, he developed an interest in biology.

When it came to deciding what the next step would be, Jack hit a roadblock. After consulting with his guidance counsellor, he decided to pursue something in sports therapy, mixing his love of sports with his interest in biology.

Jack did his own research on what courses were available to him, where he found our BSc in Sports Therapy.

In Portobello, it is important to us that each student feels seen and that their concerns are acknowledged by our tutors, something that encouraged Jack to enrol.

“I liked the idea of smaller classes over large lecture halls. In small classes each lecturer gets to know the students which isn’t the case in bigger colleges,” he said.

Like many of our current and past students, Jack found the application process to be a smooth one.

“I found the application process handy.

“I enjoyed the interview to get into the college where I was able to put across what I wanted to get out of the course.

“I was also able to learn how the college would facilitate me as a graduate should I want to go on and do a masters,” he said.

And halfway through his first year, Jack is enjoying his time in Portobello.

“I have really enjoyed the in-person lectures that we do.

“The introduction to sports therapy and the anatomy modules are enjoyable. They’re the kind of modules I expected the course to have,” he said.

And Portobello is just the first step for Jack.

“After college, I would like to go on and do a Masters in Physiotherapy. Ideally, I’d like to open my own practice and work for myself,” he said.

If you are interested in non-CAO routes to sports degrees at Portobello check out our course pages here.