The LCA Work Skills pilot programme, hosted by the Irish National Stud, was launched on Aug. 7.
An initiative of Together for Racing Ireland (TfR Ireland) under the umbrella of Together for Racing International (TfRI), the programme brought together students and teaching staff from Curragh Post Primary, Kildare Town Community School and St. Paul's Secondary School. Students were welcomed by INS CEO Cathal Beale at the Michael Osborne Centre, with Godolphin Managing Director Joe Osborne providing some insight into the Irish bloodstock industry. Jane Mangan was the guest speaker, while there was also a prize raffle and jackets donated by The Irish Field. The students and teaching staff were then given a tour of the INS, which involved the recently launched Irish Racehorse Experience and an opportunity to try RACE's mobile racehorse simulator, as well as a tour of the INS stallion yard and foaling unit among other activities.
Commenting on the launch, Joe Osborne said, “It was great to see the launch event at INS so well attended–by students from the three schools, teaching staff and industry personnel. This is a welcome initiative and huge congratulations to everyone who has been involved in pulling it together so successfully. There has been great progress recently in promoting our industry as a career option and I am confident that many of the Leaving Cert Applied students who avail of the work experience placement will find fulfilling employment in the thoroughbred industry in the future.”
If accepted into the programme, each 6th Year Leaving Certificate Applied student will gain 20 days work experience with participating industry organisations over the 2021/2022 academic year. The objective is to give students an insight into the Irish bloodstock industry, including the wide breath of career opportunities available. Over the next few weeks, students interested in the LCA Work Skills pilot programme will be identified and matched with their placement hosts. A long term goal is to rollout the programme regionally after the first year with the help and assistance of TfRI. For more information, please click here.
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