A When Swedish native, Birgitta Curtin, visited Ireland as a young 18-year-old in 1981, little did she think she would be still here more than 40 years later, and running Irelands best known and most successful artisan salmon smokehouses in the spectacular Burren in Co. Clare. Born and
A love story involving a Connemara woman and a Chilean man has resulted in the creation of an award-winning outdoor seafood eatery which is making serious culinary waves along the shores of the majestic Killary Fjord in Co. Galway. Kim Young and Reinaldo Seco are the talented husband and
10 Reasons Why You Should Study at CAFRE Experienced Staff: CAFRE staff are highly qualified and experienced at delivering education programmes. They come from a range of backgrounds bringing a lot of knowledge and skills that they will share with you. Great job prospects: Students study at CAFRE because they
If you are looking for a fun, challenging, dynamic career path then Shannon college just might be for you. Shannon is not only a college that offers you a high level of hospitality training, but so much life experience from a wide range of different modules such as intercultural communications
What is being a Butcher all about? Are you creative, hands-on, people person, with good attention to detail, and interested in food? Do you find yourself interested in the craft of how great food is created? Would you like to be part of Ireland’s proud tradition as
What work does a Commis Chef do? Commis Chef literally translates as ‘ Clerk Chef ’. Commis chefs are the junior members of the kitchen staff. They usually work under various Chef de parties in order to learn the skills required for each section. They are usually
Kate Stitt had graduated from Dublin Institute of Technology with a degree in Fine Art after four years of conceptual creativity and an Erasmus+ stint abroad in East London. Now, back in Dublin, it was time to work. She managed to find her own art studio but, struggling to make
Entrepreneur, designer, activist, and communications superstar Sonya Lennon reflects on a series of mishaps in the aftermath of her Leaving Certificate which taught her escaping the conventional route can set you on the right path, along with the right mix of education and training. Leaving Cert mishaps In the 1980s
If you’ve walked through Dublin Airport, the Aviva Stadium, or any number of Ireland’s pubs, chances are you’ve seen Al Higgins’ work. Al is now one of the country’s leading editorial and commercial photographers with the likes of Aer Lingus, Bank
Receiving a job offer from one of Ireland’s top luxury hotels, and an international accolade to boot, Danay Berhane has come a long way from Leaving Cert results day 2016. Danay tells us: ‘I knew I wanted to be a chef, that was all I wanted to
Miriam Dineen, wears several hats as a dairy farmer and sales representative for an agri company. The 22-year-old hails from Cahirbarnagh, Rathmore, Co. Kerry, on the Cork side of the Cork/Kerry border. Farming is a longstanding tradition on both sides of her family, with Miriam being the
Thomas is from Skerries, Co. Dublin and is a 1st year BA Culinary Arts student. “Making the Black Forest Gateau was time consuming and had a lot of elements. The process is very methodical and you need to be precise or it won’t turn out well. I
My name is Donagh Berry and I am the Director of the Vista Milk SFI Research centre. I am an animal geneticist at Teagasc; an animal geneticist uses statistics and maths to determine if an animal has good genes or bad genes for a whole range of traits. Teagasc is
My name is Willie Gibbons and I am the track manager at Leopardstown Racecourse. I’ve been based at Leopardstown my whole life, my dad, John Gibbons, was the track manager before me and I used to spend my weekends and holidays helping my dad with maintenance, and working
My name is Fiona Dowling and I am head girl at Jamie Osbourne Racing, Lambourn, UK. I have been involved in the industry for the past ten years and I am delighted to have built my career on my passion for racing. I am from Listowel, Co. Kerry and got
My name is Niall Byrne and I’m a point-to-point stewards secretary. I’ve been involved in the racing industry since 1975. I attended the RACE at the age of 14. Upon completion I was awarded apprentice of the year. As part of the course syllabus
Dr Elvira De Eyto, Zoologist, Marine Institute For the past 18 years, Dr Elvira de Eyto’s role at the Marine Institute in Newport, Co Mayo has focused on the long-term monitoring of the Burrishoole catchment ecosystem, to track and help understand changes in the environment. With a
Elizabeth Tray Research Scientist, Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (GMIT) and Marine Institute Research Scientist, Elizabeth Tray, is preserving past marine research through the project ‘Unlocking the Archive’. A partnership between GMIT’s Marine and Freshwater Research Centre and the Marine Institute, the project aims to create
Sara Flynn How did you become interested in your career? I did a foundation course in Cork in 1988 with the intention of going on to study Painting. One of the materials we were able to experiment on the course was Clay - I loved it immediately and my direction changed
Leon Butler How did you become interested in your career? I’ve always been kind of stuck at a bridge between art and technology and wanted something that would encompass both. I loved drawing but I was also into building computers and so Industrial Design, which I studied as
Alan Meredith - Furniture Maker How did you become interested in your career? From a young age I had a desire to make things from all sorts of materials. Over the years wood became my material of choice. The disciplines of woodturning and furniture making traditionally use solid wood and so
FASHION: TISSUE Design Studio TISSUE is a womens ready-to-wear label based in Dublin. Our clothing is designed and made in Ireland using high quality natural fabrics. TISSUE clothes are 100% ethically and sustainably produced. We work on very different schedules. Hannah is an early bird, in the studio
JEWELLERY: Gayle Anderson; Appleby Jewellers Appleby Jewellers, Dublin, have dedicated more then sixty years to creating a worldwide reputation for excellence and creative jewellery design, offering renowned diamond expertise and the very best in quality and value. My average day varies depending on the requirements of the workshop at
Paula Hynes is a Phytoplankton Analyst at the Marine Institute, monitoring the presence and impact of harmful phytoplankton species year round. Paula says she always enjoyed learning science at school which led her to study biology at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). “While I was studying, I
Cullen Fellowship research on oceanographic modelling of Nephrops populations around Ireland Ryan McGeady is a PhD student at NUI Galway (Zoology/School of Natural Sciences) and a Cullen Fellow at the Marine Institute. His research topic is on oceanographic modelling of Nephrops populations around Ireland. Nephrops, also known as Dublin
Fisheries scientist at the Marine Institute, Jennifer Doyle has been surveying Nephrops norvegicus stocks, commonly known as the Dublin Bay prawn, for almost 20 years. Growing up close to the River Boyne in Co Meath, Jennifer says she was always spending time outdoors and by the water. “I
As an Administrator in the Marine Institute’s Fish Health Unit, Patricia Wilson deals with the health of fish and shellfish and the prevention and control of certain aquatic diseases. Patricia studied marine biology at Queen’s University Belfast, before completing a Masters in Environmental Management at Ulster
For the past 13 years, Aodhán Fitzgerald, Research Vessel Operations Manager at the Marine Institute has been coordinating the operations of Ireland’s two research vessels, the RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager . Growing up beside the sea in West Kerry, Aodhán spent his
Vera Quinlan works at the Marine Institute, and is involved in Ireland’s seabed mapping programme, INFOMAR. As a hydrographer , Vera’s career and sense of adventur has taken her around the world. Vera says she has always had a connection with the ocean. Her
Fisheries Scientist at the Marine Institute, Tom McDermott has been researching the ‘King of Fish’, the salmon for more than 40 years. “Growing up near Lough Derg in Co Clare, my father had a huge influence on me through his obsession with angling, and everything that related
Name: Richard Cowman Address: Tramore, Co. Waterford Current position: Assistant Garden Manager Business details: Assisting with management and maintenance of a 1 hectare garden at Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Gardens. Education • Certificate in Manufacturing Technology W.I.T. • Qualified Carpenter & Joiner • BSc in Horticulture 2012 Background I
Name: Deirdre Howlin Address: Kilmore, Co. Wexford Current position: Owner of Grange Greens Plant Centre Education I completed the Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture (2004) & Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture at Kildalton College (2005). I then transferred to the 2nd year of the Level 7 Horticulture course in
Name: Ruairi Coyle Address: Galway Current position : Galway Golf Club Education • Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture Background I began my studies at the National Botanic Gardens in October 2014. I wanted to gain more knowledge about greenkeeping and horticulture, I learned a lot about plant identification and plant
Name : Shane Thorne Address: Rush, Co. Dublin Current position: Assistant Vegetable Farm Manager Business details: 200 - 250 heactares of potatoes, parsnip & early season swedes 20-25 employees Supplying two large supermarket chains Education • 2 years Engineering • Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture • Level 6 Advanced Certificate in
Healthy foods, healthy bodies A household name, Keelings in north Dublin is probably best known for providing fruit all year round to supermarkets. But there’s something else they love to grow too: data and business intelligence. Keelings has developed its own software to monitor and manage the
The longstanding tradition of farming in Ireland continues to contribute a major source of economic activity for the country and is still the focus of rural Ireland. The farming tradition is steadfast, but the farming methods are changing and adapting to meet the needs of the modern technological age and
A 2018 Teagasc survey revealed that Dairy is the most profitable agricultural activity in the state with average incomes hitting a record €86,115 in 2017 on foot of a strong upturn in dairy prices globally. A 2017 survey conducted by the National Farm Research Unit revealed that 53
The rapid growth of dairy farming in Ireland has led to our position as one of the leading global exporters of infant milk formula. One in seven babies worldwide drink products manufactured in Ireland (2014). The three biggest infant formula producers, Abbott, Danone and Wyeth are based in Ireland
GLASS: Scott Benefield; artist I've always seen my work as an extension of an historical narrative that is about the material. It exists in relation to the long history of glass objects and embraces the techniques and traditions that enliven that history. The feeling of connection to past practice
What are the main tasks and responsibilities? My Job includes many tasks and responsibilities but mainly it is to provide a free independent advisory service to private land owners on all aspects for afforestation and forest management. This involves visiting individual forest owners or those interested in planting, organising regional
Current Job: UCD Research Fellow (research scientist in forestry). I am also about to change position and will begin as a Lecturer in Forestry soon. What are the main tasks and responsibilities? My main role is to carry out research into various aspects of forestry. My main research projects relate
What are the main tasks and responsibilities? I am Head of Resource Planning in Coillte’s Forest division. We are the custodians of a resource that is enormously valuable from many different perspectives. Sustaining and enhancing this resource is of vital importance but so too is ensuring that its
What are the main tasks and responsibilities? Scientific evaluation of progress reports, general queries relating to current research topics and processing new research proposals, field visits, representing DAFM at meetings, etc. Describe a typical day? Typical day in the office starts at 9am, check emails and prioritise duties for the
What are the main tasks and responsibilities? District Inspector – Dealing with grant and felling applications, site inspections, taking samples for plant health Dept., dealing with queries from general public & representing the Forest Service at public events from time to time. Describe a typical day? Office for 2 hours
Current Job – Harvesting Technology Team Member, Coillte What are the main tasks and responsibilities? Developing new technologies which are beneficial to the business and training staff in the use of that technology. Carrying out log quality audits on harvest sites. Training new staff in best practices for harvesting operations