Cheltenham-winning jockey graduates from South East Technological University

Cheltenham-winning jockey Lisa O’Neill graduated from South East Technological University (SETU) on Wednesday10th January. 

Dubliner Lisa graduated with an MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology from SETU’s Waterford campus.

During what Lisa calls a '10-year break from education', she embarked on a magical journey as an amateur jockey. Away from the track, she became a household figure from her appearances on RTÉ and Racing TV. Lisa used her new-found status to advocate for opening sporting opportunities for women.

At just 34, Lisa called time on her racing career at Tramore Racecourse in 2022. Under her belt she had 101 race victories, 142 rides in a single season, and most notably, a 2017 Cheltenham Festival win on crowd favourite Tiger Roll.

After closing that chapter of her life, Lisa was eager to go back to education.

'I had experienced all the ups and downs of competition, the toll that the demands and expectations of being an athlete can take. That’s where I wanted to go', says Lisa. Already equipped with a practical foundation in sports psychology, the former jockey attended Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design + Technology (IADT) where she completed a certificate in Applied Sports and Performance Psychology.

On completion, Lisa moved on to SETU – a university she says was 'extremely helpful' in every aspect of her studies. 

'It was a place that enabled me to achieve a stronger understanding of the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for a role in sports and exercise psychology.'

SETU’s MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology programme provides students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to work in enhancing sports performance, sports participation, and best practice at a variety of age and performance levels. 

The former rider says that it was fascinating to build on her practical knowledge and learn the theories behind those seemingly instinctive moments in sport.

'While having a practical understanding helped, it was great to be able to relate these theories to what I had experienced on the track in a competitive environment,' she said.

Lisa’s next step is to become a fully accredited sports psychologist where she can work with individuals and teams to help achieve their optimal performance.