Jack Daly
Jack Daly graduated from Portobello Institute’s BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy programme in 2024 and followed our direct entry pathway into his MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration) on his journey to becoming a physiotherapist.
“It feels like a relief to graduate knowing that all the hard work I put in throughout the past three years has come to a satisfying conclusion. It feels great to be graduating with friends that I made along the way and with many experiences that I have gained,” he said at his graduation ceremony.
Jack’s interest in physiotherapy stemmed from his passion for sports. He has been involved in Gaelic football and hurling since his youth and follows other sports like Formula 1 racing. This passion, coupled with his interest in the inner workings of top athletic performances, steered him towards a career in this field.
“I have always had an interest in sport, having played both Gaelic football and hurling since I was very young and watching everything from football to F1. The chance to work in a sporting environment behind the scenes is something that I find fascinating as I am interested to see what a lot of people don’t get the chance to when it comes to that top level performance that these athletes put on display week in week out,” he said.
Through research and support from his guidance counsellor Jack came to Portobello Institute after school and hasn’t looked back.
“I went straight into Portobello Institute after the Leaving Cert, having learnt about the different pathways into physiotherapy from having done not only my own research, but also having heard of it from the guidance counsellor in my secondary school. All the questions I had about the course were easy to find, if not on the website than through contacting the college itself,” he said.
The one-to-one learning environment at Portobello Institute appealed to Jack, as he preferred a learning environment where lecturers were familiar with their students. The flexible course delivery enabled him to balance work and studies, reinforcing his learning by applying the concepts in his work within the field.
“The smaller classes suit me very much. It feels as though lecturers know who you are rather than in some colleges that I have heard from through friends, where it’s not exactly a good thing if lecturers know who you are! As well as this, the flexible delivery means you can work while studying, and if you are working in the field, you are already studying, then I find I learn outside the classroom as I do inside,” he said.
Portobello Institute’s work placement opportunities also played a significant role in Jack’s decision. He secured a placement with 2024 League of Ireland winners Shelbourne Football Club, while others in his course got opportunities with other League of Ireland clubs. These placements provided valuable practical experience.
“The opportunities for work placement were also very impressive as I was lucky enough to work with Shelbourne Football Club, with others in my course having the opportunity to work for other League of Ireland clubs,” he said.
Jack describes his time studying at Portobello Institute as enjoyable, highlighting the social aspect and the academic support from his friends, particularly during challenging periods like thesis submission.
He also valued the practical learning from his placements, where he learned about various injuries and rehabilitation techniques with a focus on return-to-play strategies. He has since adapted these techniques for his work with Gaelic football and hurling players.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Portobello Institute. I made many friends along the way who not only helped the social aspect of college, but also in the academic side to it as I think we all know ourselves that we helped each other, especially around the end of the year when our theses were due!
“I also enjoyed my placements a lot, learning about various injuries and how to rehabilitate these injuries with a specific a focus on return to play in football which I have altered myself slightly for when I am working myself, returning players back from injury in both Gaelic football and hurling,” he said.
He attributes the flexible lecture schedule at Portobello to enabling him to maintain a healthy work-life balance, even during demanding periods with assignments.
“I found the flexibility of the lectures meant we were able to maintain a healthy work/life balance. It may be difficult at times to balance everything with assignments due and everything but with the delivery of the lectures even that is made easier,” he said.
Jack, now working as a Sports Therapist at St. Vincent’s GAA and Craobh Chiaráin GAA, highly recommends Portobello Institute. He believes it’s a great way to enter a field that might have seemed inaccessible before. Having already recommended the program to two friends who are currently in their final year, Jack expresses excitement for the future.
“I have recommended Portobello Institute already! Two of my friends are currently in their final year in sports therapy and are making the most out of it. I think it is a great way to get into a field that you might not have thought possible before for whatever reason but I’m glad that I have completed my course and excited to see what the future holds,” he said.
Find Out More
If you are interested in the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree, you can book a consultation with our course advisor Janice O’Toole, email [email protected] or call 01 892 0041.
If you are interested in studying an MSc Physiotherapy, you can book a consultation call with our course advisor Hannah Meade to find out more at [email protected] or call 01 892 0029.
