Joanne O’Riordan, a disability rights campaigner, has secured a place studying criminology at University College Cork.

The inspirational teen has been offered the Quercus scholarship, which acknowledges an individual’s work in the community.

Joanne will begin her three year programme in autumn this year, living in specially adapted student accommodation.

Joanne said “It’s a fantastic day. I have always wanted to go to University and be part of a wider network of education. What UCC have offered me is simply unbelievable!”