More Than 700 Tipperary Students Attend Coolmore Careers Day

The inaugural Coolmore Careers Day, in association with Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary school - which proposed the initiative - took place in the impressive Fethard Town Park on Thursday, 10^th April. Students also had the opportunity to visit Coolmore and see the stallion yard at first hand along with mares and foals in their paddocks.

More than 700 students (4^th – 6^th Year) from 15 post primary schools across Co. Tipperary availed of the opportunity to explore dozens of farming, trade and professional career types on their doorstep at this Careers Day dedicated to bloodstock, farming, tourism, hospitality and associated sectors. Participating schools hailed from Fethard, Clonmel, Cahir, Cashel, Thurles, Ballingarry and Kilsheelan.

Aidan O’Brien, Principal Billy Walsh and Coolmore’s MV Magnier with students from Fethard’s Patrician Presentation Secondary School

Eoin O’Neill, currently on the Coolmore Group’s Accounting Technician programme, pictured with racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien

Commenting, Billy Walsh, Principal of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary school said: “Bloodstock, farming and tourism are the lifeblood of Co. Tipperary and we are blessed to have Coolmore and Ballydoyle on our doorstep. Farming and bloodstock are two of the major employers in this region and they also support tourism, heritage, sustainable communities and our environment. Today’s visit shows that whether a student is considering a Solas apprenticeship, Agricultural College, or university, there are careers to suit all interests and talents and that’s something to celebrate.”

Jenny O’Dwyer who heads up the Coolmore Group’s Accounting Technician programme

Commenting, Tom Lynch, Farm Manager, Coolmore said: “Each year Coolmore employs numerous apprentices and graduates who cut their teeth working with some of the best in the industry. We wanted to showcase to these students the array of opportunities they have on their doorstep. It’s obviously important for young people to travel and get an education, but we want them to know that there are a wide array of rewarding jobs – some of them very high-powered – if they choose to return to the community they grew up in.

At Coolmore we are privileged to be part of a bloodstock industry that supports a €2.46bn economic impact nationally and over 30,000 jobs. Tipperary also has the distinction of being one of the counties with the lowest outbound work commutes. That says a lot about sustainable communities and work-life balance.

As well as the large number of people who work directly with the horses, constant growth means we also require plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc. Office staff include accountants, IT, marketing and health and safety staff.

Farming and gardening provide a large number of roles including agricultural mechanics while the hospitality end of things also offers a wide range of careers options.

We’d love to see this event growing from strength to strength, as a showcase for the much broader farming and bloodstock sector.”