DkIT student Sarah is nourishing her ambition through the Nutrition and Health course
As she prepares to begin her final year studying Nutrition and Health at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), Sarah Gonnelly reflects on a journey that has combined her passion for food, health and sport with a desire to help others.
"There is such a huge variety within the course. We look at sports nutrition, clinical nutrition and how the food industry works," she says. "There's always something new to learn."
A keen footballer with the Dundalk Young Irelands GFC, and having prospered at both Biology and Home Economics in school, being able to explore Sports Nutrition also really appealed to her. A career in midwifery was originally something Sarah contemplated, but after further research and discussion with a trusted teammate, she felt the softer side of her personality may not be suited to some of the more emotionally challenging aspects of the role. “I began to explore roles where I could help people, and combined with my other interests the area of nutrition seemed perfect because food is such a big part of all of our lives.”
Once she realised nutrition was the right path for her, Sarah considered studying Dietetics in Coleraine. However, at just 17, she decided to pursue a course closer to home. “I began looking at sports nutrition, but I didn’t want to isolate myself with just one thing. So, when the course popped up at the DkIT Open Day, it ended up being one of the greatest options for me.”
Both the flexibility of the course and the opportunity to explore different aspects of nutrition have reinforced Sarah's belief that she made the right choice. From sports nutrition, to psychology to coaching people around their own nutrition, she is constantly kept on her toes. “Instead of focusing just on one element of nutrition such as dietetics or sports nutrition, I get to explore multiple areas, which will open up so many career options for me.”
The course opens the door to a wide range of careers, including nutrition, food science, product development, health promotion, community nutrition, education and research. For Sarah, a career as a dietitian feels like the best fit and she hopes to pursue a masters in dietetics after graduation.
One of her favourite areas so far has been sports and exercise metabolism, exploring VO2 Max, looking at how the body uses different nutrients, and how different foods are digested- “itchanged my whole perspective on nutrition, particularly as someone who plays football.”
As she had no previous experience with Chemistry, Sarah initially found the biochemistry module daunting. However, it quickly became one of her favourite subjects. “With a combination of the learning methods from our lecturer and some hard work and determination, I overcame my fear of biochemistry and I actually thrived in that module.”
Having once arrived on campus as a nervous first-year student, Sarah has grown in confidence both academically and personally. Through her studies and her roles as both a student ambassador and Chairperson of the Nutrition Society, she has developed the knowledge, communication skills and self-belief to pursue her goal of becoming a dietitian. As she prepares to enter her final year, she is excited about what lies ahead and confident that her journey in nutrition is only just beginning.
There are additional places available on DkIT's Nutrition and Health course for 2026.
A keen footballer with the Dundalk Young Irelands GFC, and having prospered at both Biology and Home Economics in school, being able to explore Sports Nutrition also really appealed to her.
