Senior cycle and pre-senior cycle students and their families are invited to attend the Mayo Careers Fair/Aonach Gairme Mhaigh Eo 2024 at ATU Mayo, Castlebar, Co Mayo on Saturday, January 20th from 11 am – 3 pm.
The event will provide students and their families with an opportunity to view the wide range of options at their disposal when they leave second-level education or if a mature learner is considering a return to education with the purpose of reskilling or upskilling.
A number of guest speakers will also be in attendance on the day, including Dr Brian Mooney, one of the country’s foremost guidance counsellors and education experts who writes a weekly column in The Irish Times and Eileen Keleghan from the Central Applications Office, who will bring students through their options. Brian will deliver a talk at 12 noon in a breakout room on the day, while Eileen’s talk on the CAO will be at 1pm. EUNiCAS will also deliver a talk at 2pm (on the options available to students to study abroad) and there will also be sessions with HEAR (2pm) (Higher Education Access Route – a higher education admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students (under 23) whose economic or social background are underrepresented in high education and DARE representatives (DARE is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers under the age of 23, whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education).
The following exhibitors have already committed to hosting stands on the day:
University of Galway; Maynooth University; Trinity College Dublin; Dublin City University; ATU Mayo; ATU Galway; ATU Sligo; ATU Donegal; Ulster University; St Patrick’s Pontifical University Maynooth; BIMM Institute Dublin; Technological University of the Shannon; National Tertiary Office; Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board; Mayo College of Further Education and Training; North Connaught College of Further Education; Donegal ETB; Online Flexible and Professional Development; Gaisce – The President’s Awards; College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE); An Garda Siochana; Irish Defence Forces; Employability Mayo; Gills Driving School; ESB Networks; South West Mayo Development Company; Mayo Northeast LEADER Company: Westport Estate; CareerChoice.ie; Nua Healthcare; Errigal Training Centre; Western Care Association; Career Navigation Consultants; Mayo Recovery College; TFI Local Link Mayo and Mayo Credit Unions.
According to Pat Howley, Chairperson, Mayo Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) Education & Training Working Group:
“We are also expecting further confirmation of exhibitors before the event, which will mean the Fair will provide an informative environment for everyone attending,”
The purpose of Mayo Careers Fair 2024 is to arm students and families with key information on the various options available to them upon completing their second-level education or to mature learners who wish to return to education to upskill or reskill. Admission is free of charge.
Stands from leading CAO universities and colleges will afford students the opportunity to ask key questions about those institutions, entry requirements and employment prospects. Non-college options will also be presented on the day.
The event is supported by Mayo County Council/Mayo.ie; MSLETB; the HSE; Mayo Local Employment Services; Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP); ATU; Údarás na Gaeltachta; South West Mayo Development Company; and Mayo North East LEADER Partnership.
“We invite post-primary students from Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Years, and their parents, teachers and guidance counsellors. Indeed, people from outside the county are more than welcome to come along, and we have had big attendances from neighbouring counties in previous years. This will be an exciting event, as it’s the first in-person event we’ve held since 2020” added Pat.
“Our advice to students and their families is to come along on the day and speak with the various representatives from the colleges and other entities.”
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2023 is funded by the Irish Government and co-funded by the European Social Fund and includes a special allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative. For further information, please visit the Pobal Website www.pobal.ie.
The organising committee comprises of Pat Howley, Anne Ronayne, Donal Hoban, Pamela Ní Thaidhg, Tracie O’Leary, Tim Rogers, Charlie Lambert, Mary Costello and Justin Sammon.
