Set as the highest coaching qualification in Europe, the UEFA Pro Licence diploma operates on a two-year cycle and will run over an 18-month period, covering all aspects of football coaching and management.
This will be the fifth group of coaches to go through the UEFA Pro Licence system with the FAI Coach Education department. Previous graduates have gone on to coach in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women's Champions League, UEFA European Championships, and in many of the top leagues around the world.
A considerable number of applications were received from across Europe and the candidates were confirmed following a thorough application process, football theory assessments and a series of detailed interviews.
"Having received a significant amount of applications for the next edition of our Pro Diploma course, we then entered a very detailed, transparent selection process, and are delighted with the final shortlist of candidates," said Warren Bolger, FAI Coach Education Coordinator.
"The FAI have already produced 65 UEFA Pro Diploma holders through our course and this next course will see a further 16 participants develop their competencies in several different areas, from player recruitment to media relations and so on and so forth.
"This is the highest Licence award in UEFA and we are working hard to secure some highly renowned coaches throughout Europe and within the National League to share their experience, knowledge and insight with the group of participants. This year I believe that the course participants will benefit greatly from the reality-based learning and networking that will take place. I also believe, in turn, this will only serve to further the development of the National League and football as a whole within Ireland.
"The course will be led by FAI High Performance Director Ruud Dokter, FAI Coach Education Manager Niall O'Regan, and Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager Noel King."
2016/18 FAI UEFA Pro Licence Participants
Keith Andrews, Tommy Barrett, Stephen Bradley, Adrian Carberry, Jim Crawford, Gary Cronin, Gerard Dunne, Stephen Henderson, Frank Kelleher, Stephen McNutt, Gerard Nash, Graham O'Hanlon, Colin O'Neill, Paul Osam, Alan Reynolds, Greg Yelverton
Previous FAI UEFA Pro Licence Graduates
2009
Paul Ashworth, Packie Bonner, Joe Boyle, Paul Clement, Tony Cousins, Pat Dolan, Paul Doolin, John Gill, Don Givens, Brian Kerr, Mike Kerley, Noel King, Pete Mahon, Tony Mannion, Alan Mathews, John McDonnell, Noel O'Reilly
2011
Bobby Browne, Michael Browne, Liam Buckley, Paul Cook, Kenny Cunningham, John Devine, Tommy Dunne, Curtis Fleming, Eddie Gormley, Steve Harrison, Jeff Kenna, Harry McCue, Greig Paterson, Brendan Place, Damien Richardson, Martin Russell
2013
John Brennan, Gerry Carr, Mick Cooke, Trevor Croly, Declan Devine, Adrian Fitzpatrick, John Glynn, Shane Keegan, Harry Kenny, Keith Long, Dave Mackey, Paul O'Brien, Tom O'Connor, Pat Scully
2015
Stuart Ashton, John Caulfield, Dave Connell, Jason Donohue, Eileen Gleeson, Tommy Griffin, Niall Harrison, Owen Heary, Ollie Horgan, Robbie Horgan, Peter Hutton, Tom Mohan, Mick Neville, Colin O'Brien, Don O'Riordan, Sue Ronan, Leo Tierney