Staff from MI recently caught up with a graduate of the Tourism and Teleservices programmes from the early years – Martin Davis, who is currently Manager of the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney. Martin outlines his career path below:

When I turned 40, I decided I wanted to turn my life around. I was stuck in a boring job with no prospects. I had left school at 15 with no qualifications, so I was delighted to be accepted to do a Travel and Tourism course at MIFET. The course include computer studies, communications, language and more. We did work placements and various projects/assignments.

Overall, it was a very positive experience for me. In September 1997, I then went on to do another course in International Teleservices at the college, studying German with Business, which included a 17 week work placement abroad.

I worked in a hotel in the Black Forest area of Germany. This was so successful that they offered me a permanent position when the course was finished and I was employed there for 10 years, until it closed. I later returned to Monaghan and worked at Castle Leslie, and then moved on to the Lough Erne Resort in Co Fermanagh, where I became Duty Manager, and had the privilege of meeting the Heads of State of a number of counties during the G8 summit in 2013.

I have also worked with Neven Maguire. At present I am employed as Manager of The Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney. I feel that my varied career in the Hospitality/Tourism industry is all thanks to the training and confidence I acquired during my time at MIFET (Monaghan Institute).

For further information on the Tourism/Business courses on offer at Monaghan Institute visit our website @ www.monaghaninstitute.ie or telephone the college on 047-84900.

Monaghan Institute