Education Magazine 25-3

Vol.

2 5

Issue

3

Irish at University of Ulster l The Miscarriages of Justice project at UL UCC Arts - real world skills l Croke Park Museum l UCD Nursing Griffith College l Unicef's No-Uniform Day l Reviews

Front Cover 25-3.indd 1

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Ink Maestro 25-3.indd 1

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Volume 25, Issue 3 4 News 8 Cover story: Epson classroom technology 9 New opportunities in Irish at University of Ulster Editor Niall Gormley

Production Michael Farrell

Publishers Ard Education Ltd. Tel: 01-8329246 Email: education@clubi.ie www.educationmagazine.ie

Layout Real Issues, Drumhaldry, Moyne, Co. Longford 086-8986827

13 The GAA Museum: Collecting, preserving and presenting GAA heritage 17 UCC Arts - acquiring skills for the real world 19 Studying Nursing or Midwifery at University College Dublin 20 St. Nicholas College: Leaders in montessori teacher education 22 The WorkSmart Project 25 IT Sligo – offering environmental courses for almost 40 years 27 Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture 28 Special feature UL Student Project: Miscarriages of Justice in Ireland 33 Centre for Distance Learning at UCD School of Business 35 Undergraduate and postgraduate offerings at Griffith College

Printers Nicholson & Bass Ltd.

37 Unicef Ireland: Non uniform day in aid of the Syrian Children’s Emergency Appeal 38 Festo: Professional training in virtual learning environments 41 Living A Foreign Language 42 ACCORD Golden Jubilee 43 Dublin City Hall: The story of the capital 45 Sage@School at Donabate Community College

At the time of press information in Education is believed to be accurate and authoritative. However, some information may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Acceptance of advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the publishers.

©2012. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

ISSN 0791-6161

47 Westmoreland College: For Business and Management 49 Cannon Vending 51 AirSpeed Telecom: Transforming education 52 Accounting Software: Introducing the big red cloud 53 Christ Church Cathedral Transition Year Programme 55 Vocations news 57 Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre 58 Reviews Education 3

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News Scan...........................................................................................................................

Irish Universities score highly - barometer Irish Universities score highly in the International Student Barometer Ranking with over 85% of International students recommending studying at an Irish University.

The overall global satisfaction rate of international students studying across 16 countries who participated in the International Student Barometer (ISB) was 88% with Ireland’s 7 universities ahead on 91%.

Areas where the universities collectively scored significantly higher than the international average were Student Support, Language Support, Careers Service, Employability, Opportunities to Teach and Host Culture. The universities welcomed these positive survey results as they will boost the profile of the Irish Universities on the International stage.

The results are based on a survey carried out in the academic year 2011/2012 with over 209,000 international students responding from 238 institutions in 16 countries, including 5408

international students studying at the seven Irish Universities. The results are particularly meaningful as they are based on the actual opinions of International students studying at the Irish Universities.

The International Student Barometer (ISB) is the largest independent annual study of international students in the world, tracking and reporting international student feedback. The ISB tracks decision making, perceptions, expectations and experiences of international students studying at third level institutions.

Commenting on the results, SinĂŠad Lucey International Education Manager at IUA said. “As the Irish universities continue to internationalise their activities the ISB provides valuable insight on how to evaluate and track the international student experience. We can benchmark performance against other universities and institutions worldwide and ultimately improve the student experience at our Universitiesâ€?.

Jobseekers urged to avail of free Springboard courses 36 institutes of technology, universities and privately-run higher Programmes are also available in cutting edge cross-enterprise

education colleges around the country are offering 220 Springboard skills such as Six Sigma, lean and quality systems, international

courses this year. selling, languages, business start-up and entrepreneurship skills.

Each course is specifically designed to provide jobseekers with Over 2,000 jobseekers recently attended Springboard roadshows

skills to work in growth sectors, such as ICT, medical devices, the in Dublin and Cork. These were organised by the Higher Education green economy, pharmaceuticals, food 0and and inter- Authority on behalf of the Department of Education beverages, (, #!1 +!&% !% ) * * $'#&/ !#!+/ )&** !%+ )% +!&% # &,% )! * % and Skills. ,*!% ** * +&)* .!+ *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)"!% )&** &,%+)! * national financial services.

5,200 people have already applied for free courses of their choice under the Springboard Programme.

0 (,!'' .!+ .! - )! +/ & *"!##* *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)" + + )+ & Minister of State for Training and Skills CiarĂĄn Cannon said: ,*!% ** #'!% ' &'# % ,*!% ** * +& *, "Springboard provides exciting new opportunities for people who 0 !* (, #!+/ *+ % ) + + !* ) & %!* )&,% + have lost their jobs and #& !% '&. ) +& * want a new career direction to get back to work. ) ' -!% !* *' ! #!*+ % +.&)" +& *,''&)+ ) ) ,! % &,%* ##&)* !% ,*!% ** has been!) # - # a fantastic response to-date. 6,000 places are 1% % % ) # + !* !'#!% * &+ “There + * &% % + available across 220 different courses, with the majority of courses starting next month. ' ,' +& + .!+ % .* % - %+* &%+ + “So with application deadlines fast approaching, I really encour

Grapevine E. !$ ) ' -!% !$ #& # &$ | T.

age anyone who is unemployed and finding it difficult to get work

www.cimaireland.com to consider applying for a Springboard qualification that could take

them into a new career in one of Ireland's growth industries."

0 (, #!1 +!&% !% ) * * $'#&/ !#!+/ )&** !%+ )% +!&% # &,% )! * % Industry leaders are also urging jobseekers to apply. ,*!% ** * +&)* .!+ *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)"!% )&** &,%+)! *

CIMA

0 (,!'' .!+ .! - )! +/ & *"!##* *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)" + + )+ & ,*!% ** #'!% ' &'# % ,*!% ** * +& *,

Teacher unions condemn 'pay cut'

!* (, #!+/ *+ % ) + + !* ) & %!* )&,% + #& !% '&. ) +& *

Teachers starting teaching for the first time this term will be

) ' -!% !* *' ! #!*+ % +.&)" +& *,''&)+ ) ) ,! % &,%* ##&)* !% ,*!% **

paid substantially less than in previous years. Figures released

1% % % ) # + !* !'#!% * &+ + * &% % + !) # - #

by the three teacher unions show that this year, the starting

salary of a new teacher on full hours is â‚Ź27,814 which is

0 (, #!1 +!&% !% ) * * $'#&/ !#!+/ )&** !%+ )% +!&% # &,% )! * %

' ,' +& + .!+ % .* % - %+* &%+ + 0

CIMA

0 (, #!1 +!&% !% ) * * $'#&/ !#!+/ )&** !%+ )% +!&% # &,% )! * % â‚Ź11,381 less than teachers recruited in 2010. The reduction ,*!% ** * +&)* .!+ *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)"!% )&** &,%+)! *

Grapevine E. !$ ) ' -!% !$ #& # &$ | T.

(, #!1 +!&% !% ) * * $'#&/ !#!+/ )&** !%+ )% +!&% # &,% )! * %

,*!% ** * +&)* .!+ *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)"!% )&** &,%+)! * (, #!1 +!&% !% ) * * $'#&/ !#!+/ )&** !%+ )% +!&% # &,% )! * %

www.cimaireland.com results from the non-payment of allowances to new teachers.

00 (,!'' .!+ (, #!1 +!&% !% ) * * $'#&/ !#!+/ )&** !%+ )% +!&% # &,% )! * %

.! - )! +/ & *"!##* *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)" + + )+ & ,*!% ** * +&)* .!+ *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)"!% )&** &,%+)! * 0 (,!'' .!+ .! - )! +/ & *"!##* *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)" + + )+ & ,*!% ** * +&)* .!+ *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)"!% )&** &,%+)! * ,*!% ** * +&)* .!+ *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)"!% )&** &,%+)! * The unions have described this as the third pay cut imposed ,*!% ** #'!% ' &'# % ,*!% ** * +& *, ,*!% ** #'!% ' &'# % ,*!% ** * +& *,

0

0

(,!'' .!+ .! - )! +/ & *"!##* *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)" + + )+ & on new teachers. reduction and a less 0 00 (,!'' .!+ .! - )! +/ & *"!##* *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)" + + )+ & It follows a ten per cent 0 #& !% '&. ) +& * (,!'' .!+ .! - )! +/ & *"!##* *+, %+* % $ $ )* .&)" + + )+ & !* (, #!+/ *+ % ) + + !* ) & %!* )&,% + 0 !* (, #!+/ *+ % ) + + !* ) & %!* )&,% + #& !% '&. ) +& * ,*!% ** #'!% ' &'# % ,*!% ** * +& *, favourable starting point on the salary scale from last year.

,*!% ** #'!% ' &'# % ,*!% ** * +& *, 0 ) ' -!% !* *' ! #!*+ % +.&)" +& *,''&)+ ) ) ,! % &,%* ##&)* !% ,*!% ** ,*!% ** #'!% ' &'# % ,*!% ** * +& *, ) ' -!% !* *' ! #!*+ % +.&)" +& *,''&)+ ) ) ,! % &,%* ##&)* !% ,*!% ** !* (, #!+/ *+ % ) + + !* ) & %!* )&,% + #& !% '&. ) +& * According to the unions, the cuts are unfair to new teachers 1% % % ) # + !* !'#!% * &+ + * &% % + !) # - # 1% % % ) # + !* !'#!% * &+ + * &% % + !) # - # ) ' -!% !* *' ! #!*+ % +.&)" +& *,''&)+ ) ) ,! % &,%* ##&)* !% ,*!% ** 0 !* (, #!+/ *+ % ) + + !* ) & %!* )&,% + #& !% '&. ) +& * 0 1% % % ) # + !* !'#!% * &+ !* (, #!+/ *+ % ) + + !* ) & %!* )&,% + #& !% '&. ) +& * which they say will affect schools and teaching by demeaning + * &% % + !) # - # ) ' -!% !* *' ! #!*+ % +.&)" +& *,''&)+ ) ) ,! % &,%* ##&)* !% ,*!% ** new teachers and eroding goodwill. They argue that many ' ,' +& + .!+ % .* % - %+* &%+ + ) ' -!% !* *' ! #!*+ % +.&)" +& *,''&)+ ) ) ,! % &,%* ##&)* !% ,*!% ** ' ,' +& + .!+ % .* % - %+* &%+ + CIMA 1% % % ) # + !* !'#!% * &+ + * &% % + !) # - # ' ,' +& + .!+ % .* % - %+* &%+ + E. !$ ) ' -!% !$ #& # &$ | T.

newly qualifiedGrapevine teachers will emigrate for better salaries and Grapevine 1% % % ) # + !* !'#!% * &+ + * &% % + !) # - # E. !$ ) ' -!% !$ #& # &$ | T.

www.cimaireland.com CIMA Grapevine E. !$ ) ' -!% !$ #& # &$ | T.

www.cimaireland.com improved job security thus leaving the country short of teachwww.cimaireland.com ers. Unions said allowances were an integral part of pay for ' ,' +& + .!+ % .* % - %+* &%+ + extra work, additional skills and further qualifications. ' ,' +& + .!+ % .* % - %+* &%+ + Grapevine E. !$ ) ' -!% !$ #& # &$ | T.

A teacher Grapevine starting work this year will be paid â‚Ź27,814 if E. !$ ) ' -!% !$ #& # &$ | T.

www.cimaireland.com employed full time. In 2010 a similarly qualified teacher would www.cimaireland.com have earned â‚Ź39,195.

CIMA

CIMA

CIMA

4 Education

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...........................................................................................................................News Scan

Points race needs action - TCD Points for many degree courses at Trinity College Dublin have risen significantly in 2012 reaffirming the continuing popularity of Trinity as a first preference destination for students. Approximately 3,297 places are being offered to prospective undergraduate students to study at Trinity this year.

The increase in points reflects the growth in the number of CAO applicants, the quality of Trinity courses, and the international standing of the university; but also the effects of the bonus points on offer for students who count higher level Mathematics as one of their six subjects.

Commenting on the increase, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, said: “The staff of Trinity are delighted that the demand for the kind of quality education we provide continues to grow. However, while we are delighted to see so many students aspire to study at Trinity, we do note that the pressures created by the current points system raises challenges to equity of access that we are determined to address by finding better ways of admitting students with the ability and potential to thrive academically.”

Trinity held a major one-day international conference on reforming the admissions system in May 2012 and plans to bring forward proposals for a pilot scheme – which will seek to admit students using a number of different assessments – in the new academic year, as it works to reform the system which we believe is too narrow a gate through which to admit students, with a view to easing the growing pressure on future applicants.

The overall trends for TCD degree courses show increases with points for the omnibus Engineering Course (with the new Bioengineering degree option) up 55, from 410 to 465. Computer Science has seen a significant hike, up 65 points to 450, while points for the very popular Business, Economics and Social Studies, BESS programme are up 15 to 495. The general entry Science programme is up 35 points from 475 to 510 points.

17 UCD courses increase by 25 or more points Meanwhile, points for most courses at UCD have risen, with 17 increasing by 25 or more points, reflecting in part the impact of the extra points for higher maths but also the rise of over 10% in first preferences for UCD among CAO applicants this year.

Unsurprisingly, points for Science (DN200) increased by 45 from 455 in 2011 to 500 and Computer Science (DN201) increased by 60 from 410 in 2011 to 470. Both degrees have been growing in popularity over a number of years and experienced significant growth in first preferences again this year continuing a trend that began several years ago.

“The debate regarding the value of bonus points for higher maths raised concerns that this would distort the points for highpoint courses that do not require higher maths. It is the case that 17 UCD courses have increased by 25 or more points in round one. However, many degrees, such as Law (DN600), Business & Law (DN610), Commerce (DN650) and Psychology (DN519) show an increase in points more in line with the increase in first preferences,” Professor Mark Rogers, Deputy President of UCD said.

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News Scan...........................................................................................................................

1,500 attend literacy camps

Graduate employment rise at UL

More than 1,500 primary pupils across the country have taken part in Department of Education week-long English language literacy summer camps. In July, some 1,000 children attended Campaí Samhraidh, the Irish language literacy courses.

A new feature of this year’s summer camps is the inclusion of a numeracy element, in line with both the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and the Programme for Government.

The Strategy was launched by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD, last year. It has ambitious targets and describes the actions that must be taken to improve the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy. From September 2011, primary schools have had to spend 90 minutes on literacy and 50 minutes on numeracy each day.

UL's graduate employment rate has continued to rise and the 2011 figure for primary degree-holders is now 16% higher than the HEA’s most recently-available national average figure which is 46% for 2010.

The percentage of UL graduates finding employment in Ireland increased in the past year, from 45% to 50%, while overseas figures remains constant at 13%.There was a decrease in the number of graduates opting for further study or research, from 27% to 25%. More than 79%of those who completed a Postgraduate Diploma in 2011 found employment in Ireland with only 10% working abroad. The highest employment rate was recorded by PhD graduates with 86% employed.

Certificate in Ethical and Multidenominational Education Educate Together is working in partnership with St Patrick's College of Education in providing a new postgraduate Certificate in Ethical and Multi-denominational Education.

This is the first time a College of Education has offered a course specifically addressing the professional needs of teachers working, or wishing to work, in the growing multi-denominational sector.

It is also the first postgraduate course in the state to address the subject of ethical education, a new and challenging area of education. The course is blended, involving face-to-face sessions on allocated weekends, as well as online tutorials.

Universities honour Chuck Feeney The universities of Ireland, North and South, will jointly confer an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) on Charles F. "Chuck" Feeney, founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies this autumn.

This is the first time such an honour will have been conferred jointly by all the Universities on the island of Ireland. The universities are coming together to honour Chuck Feeney’s remarkable contribution to Irish society, and in particular to the universities.

Since 1990, Atlantic has donated nearly €770 million to Irish universities, North and South. The physical manifestations of this philanthropy can be seen today most notably in the transformational research infrastructure which has been created on university campuses. Atlantic Philanthropies has announced that it will complete its grantmaking in 2016.

UÊ Ì> > Ê > }Õ>}iÊ ÕÀÃiÃÊU UÊ Ì> > Ê ÛiÀÃ>Ì Ê >ÃÃiÃÊU UÊ/ iÊ Ì> > Ê Ê ÕLÊUÊ"«iÀ>Ê-i >ÀÊUÊ UÊ i Ê*Ài«>À>Ì Ê Ìi à ÛiÊ ÕÀÃiÃÊU

Enrolling from Monday 3rd to Thursday 20th September 2012 20% DISCOUNT ON LANGUAGE COURSES FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN IRISH SCHOOLS Further details from classes.iicdublino@esteri.it

Ì>VÌÊÕÃ\ÊV >ÃÃið V`ÕL JiÃÌiÀ ° ÌÊÊ v \ÊÜÜÜ° V`ÕL °iÃÌiÀ ° Ì 6 Education

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Epson Printing

Epson leads the way in bringing affordable and engaging learning to every classroom

H

aving introduced interactive ultra-short-throw projectors to the education industry in early 2010, Epson, the world’s leading projector manufacturer , has launched its second-generation models, as well as four new ultra-short-throw models. Based on industry feedback, Epson has developed new features, such as more responsive interactive pens and PC-free connectivity, to help bring engaging learning to more classrooms.

Ultra-short-throw interactive projectors The interactive EB-485Wi and EB-475Wi projectors now feature two interactive pens. They allow teachers and students to write on the screen simultaneously, making collaborative work easier. These lightweight pens are very responsive and easy to use, thanks to the new ‘hover’ function that accurately detects when they are not in contact with the projection surface. In addition to working with popular computer software, these projectors have a PC-free functionality and ‘instant annotation’ tool.

Ultra-short-throw projectors Like the interactive projectors, the noninteractive versions, the EB-485W, EB475W, EB-480 and EB-470, can project large images from a very short distance, ensuring shadows are minimised. All projectors are easy to install with horizontal keystone correction enabling straightforward picture alignment, while the plug and play USB functionality, plus a built-in 16W speaker, means one cable is all that’s needed for image, sound and page up-down control and offers a complete multimedia package. perfect tool Katrina Timmis, Epson Ireland Country Manager says: “These new projectors are the perfect tool for modern-day schools looking to capture young minds and help develop more engaging learning environments. Thanks to our 3LCD technology,

authorities, so we’ve developed six different models to suit a variety of budgets. To help keep running costs low, have long lamp and filter lifespans, which means they don’t have to be replaced as often.”

The EB-485Wi, EB-475Wi, EB-485W, EB-475W, EB-480 and EB-470 are available now from resellers nationwide

teachers and students can experience highquality images with vivid, natural colours and deep blacks, even in daylight, and with the addition of HDMI inputs, high-definition content can be shown with maximum clarity.”

Timmis adds, “We realise the economic climate is tough for many schools and

* Source: Futuresource Consulting Limited, www.futuresource-consulting.com Key features

EB485Wi

EB475Wi

EB485W

EB475W

EB480

EB470

Ultra-short-throw widescreen presenting

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XGA

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Make any presenting surface interactive

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Complete interactive package: projector, two digital pens, built-in software, wall-mount

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Built-in interactive functionality for annotating presentations without connecting a PC

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Dual digital pens can be used simultaneously

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Highly responsive digital pens with 'hover' detection

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Improved offset and four different mounting positions: wall, ceiling, side of desk and under desk

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No image calibration or drivers needed

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3,100 lumens White and Colour Light Output

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2,600

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2,600

3,000

2,600

Large projected image size of up to 100 inches/254cm

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Fast set-up with quick-start and instant-off, plus direct power on/off

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Easy picture alignment with horizontal and vertical keystone correction

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One cable for sound, picture and page up/down with 3in-1 USB display

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Built-in 16W speaker

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Compatible with Epson ELP-DC06 USB Visualiser and Epson ELPCB01 Control and Connection Box

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Low TCO with 4,000-hour or 4-year lamp life, in eco mode, and 5,000-hour filter life

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3LCD technology for deep blacks and natural colours, even in daylight

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HDMI input for high-definition content

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8 Education

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University of Ulster

New opportunities in Irish at University of Ulster

A

re you thinking of enhancing your career potential? Did you know that research carried out by Ulster and Limerick economists confirmed that there is "a significant advantage attached to having some knowledge of Irish" (Economic and Social Review, 40.4, 2009, p. 450).

Barooh, Dineen and Lynch were able to prove that “structural advantage of Irish speaking, over non-speaking, workers increases from 24-32%, when all workers were analysed, to 55-58% when only workers with higher education were considered”.

Which means, if you have a University degree and are a competent Irish speaker, your chances of getting the job are twice as high. So, why not get a degree in Irish at the University of Ulster?

n An Dr Malachy Ó Néill, Ceann Scoile, Scoil Theanga agus Litríocht na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Uladh.

Dr Malachy Ó Néill, Head of School, School of Irish Language and Literature, University of Ulster

Why University of Ulster?

The University of Ulster is widely recognised as a centre of excellence in the study of modern Irish both nationally and internationally.

Celebrating success of Irish at Ulster, the new School of Irish Language and Literature has been established in August 2012 at the University campuses of Magee (in the city of Derry/Londonderry) and Belfast (at York Street in the city centre).

We are now pleased to offer both fulltime and part-time courses in the two major cities in the north of Ireland, supporting the growing Irish language communities in both Belfast and Derry - this is a tremendous opportunity for all concerned.

Teaching syllabus We place great emphasis on acquiring a high level of competence in spoken and written Irish and you are given the opportunity to study in depth the literary and historical traditions of Gaelic Ireland from the Bardic period until the present day.

Teaching is carried out through the medium of Irish and students typically take modules in Irish language and literature, translation and language planning, folklore, Irish culture and heritage, and Scottish Gaelic.

Education 9

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n Belfast Campus, University of Ulster

Career Options The phenomenal growth in the Irish language sector in recent years has created a market for our graduates.

Irish language graduates are highly skilled in critical thinking and are ideal to pursue careers in television and radio broadcasting, media and journalism, and teaching. There are numerous opportunities in the public/ private sector at home and abroad, including central and local government, language development agencies, librarianship and archive work.

The University of Ulster has a proven track record of producing graduates with excellent Irish which makes them ideally suited to take up these posts.

Our students say: "Thosaigh mé anseo i mí Mheán Fómhair agus bhain mé an-sult as an chúrsa Gaeilge agus na ranganna go dtí seo. Cruthaíonn Roinn na Gaeilge cuid mhór deiseanna anseo le feabhas a chur ar do chuid Gaeilge, mar shampla turais chun na Gaeltachta gach bliain agus cuidíonn an Roinn leat

n Magee Campus, University of Ulster

chomh maith obair a fháil mar cheannaire sna Gaeltachtaí. Beidh sé sin ina chuidiú ollmhór agam mar ba mhaith liom a bheith i mo mhúinteoir Gaeilge i ndiaidh dom an chéim a bhaint amach. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in ann PGCE a dhéanamh amach anseo." (“I started here in the month of September and I really enjoyed the Irish course and the classes so far. The Irish Department creates a lot of opportunities to achieve excellence in Irish, for example, annual trips to the Gaeltacht and the Department also assists in getting work in the Gaeltacht as summer school leaders.

It will be of great help to me as I would like to become a teacher of Irish after I graduate. I hope to be able to complete a PGCE course after that.”)

Lauren McLaughlin, BA Hons Irish with Irish History Progression opportunities Graduates will also be well equipped to pursue postgraduate studies in the broad field of linguistics, folklore, Celtic studies, translation and sociolinguistics. Many Irish graduates occupy key positions in the educational and cultural life of Ireland, both north and south.

modúil teagaisc, an obair measúnachta, an caidreamh a bhunaigh mé le mo stiúrthóirí, agus an obair neamhspleách, an t-aistriú a dhéanamh ó mhac léinn fochéime go mac léinn iarchéime agus tús a chur le tráchtas dochtúireachta." (“The MRes was, for me, a very helpful and useful course that helped me improve my skills both as a researcher and as a student. I have no doubt that the MRes presented me with an opportunity to begin postgraduate research working with the Irish language and with a specific research topic chose by myself.

The structure of the course, between the taught modules, assignments, the relationship I built up with my supervisors, and the independent element of the thesis, helped me make the transition between undergraduate and postgraduate student life and gave me a great foundation to begin my PhD thesis.”)

Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, PhD candidate, currently working on the work of Irish Folklore Commission and its collectors, with specific emphasis on Seán Ó hEochaidh.

Our students say: "Is cúrsa fíormhaith úsáideach é an MRes a chuir go mór mór le mo chuid scileanna mar mhac léinn agus mar thaighdeoir araon. Níl amhras ar bith ann ach gur thug an cúrsa MRes deis dom tús a chur le hobair na hiarchéime ag plé leis an Ghaeilge agus le hábhar taighde a roghnaigh mé féin.

Chuidigh struchtúr an chúrsa liom, idir na Find OUT MORE

n Lauren McLaughlin

School of Irish Language and Literature, University of Ulster Tel. +44 (0)28 7167 5219 E-mail: gaeilge@ulster.ac.uk

n Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh

Education 11

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Other courses available at responder level include:

CFR- Cardiac First Responder

OFA- Occupational First Aid

EFR- Emergency First Responder

Emergency Services Training Institute is an Irish Owned company and is recognised by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC). We specialise in emergency medical training, utilising Paramedic and Advance Paramedic tutors and instructors.

All our training, equipment and facilities are of the highest of standards.

CONTACT US: C21 The Exchange, Calmount Park, Ballymount, Dublin 12.

E-mail: info@esti.ie • Tel: + 353 (0)1 409 8113 • Web: www.esti.ie

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Educational excursions

The GAA Museum Collecting, preserving and presenting GAA heritage

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he GAA Museum is one of the top visitor attractions in Dublin! It first opened its doors in 1998 to commemorate, recognise and celebrate the organisation's enormous contribution to Irish sporting, cultural and social life.

Whether you’re a die-­hard GAA fan or just someone who wants to soak up the unrivalled history, atmosphere and significance of one of the unique cornerstones of Irish culture, the GAA Museum has it all.

Not only can you trace the birth and growth of the GAA both at home and abroad, you can also explore a vast collection that includes match-­winning hurleys, famous jerseys, player medals and vintage match-­ day programmes from some of the most memorable games.

The GAA Museum is also the only place to see some of sport’s most iconic trophies including the original Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups as well as the Christy

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Ring Collection, the Jack Lynch Collection and the Davin Collection.

Croke Park Stadium Tours Experience the magic of match day and follow in the footsteps of legends with the Croke Park Stadium Tour. As one of Ireland’s most popular attractions, the Croke Park Stadium Tour offers an in-­depth behind the scenes look at one of the biggest, most historic and state-­o f-­t he-­a rt sporting arenas in the world.

Start off by learning what it’s like to be a GAA legend -­drop by the dressing rooms… walk up that famous tunnel… and then take in one of the greatest sights in world sport as you stand next to the hallowed turf of the home of Irish sport.

Then it’s time to take your seat in the beautiful VIP area before retiring to the luxury of the exclusive Player’s Lounge.

Finally, head up and experience the comfort of the corporate suites before popping into the media centre on the very top tier of the stadium and enjoy a breath-­taking bird's eye view of the one and only Croke Park.

School tours to the home of Irish sport The GAA Museum is committed to communicating and increasing awareness of the organisation’s historical contribution to Irish sporting, cultural and social life since its formation. In order to educate, and entertain, the young people of Ireland, a learning environment that is meaningful, accessible, engaging and stimulating has been carefully created.

A taste of the activities on offer for school kids: • Behind-­the-­scenes guided tours • Film screenings >>> Education 13

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• Game zones • Interactive exhibits • Activity sheets for young explorers • History workshops From guided tours to interactive exhibits and the fantastic activity room – Cú Chulainn's Den, the GAA Museum offers school children of all ages a unique opportunity to learn more about the Gaelic Athletic Association and its significance in their country’s history and their own future.

A typical class visit takes approximately two hours and there is a range of group discounts available. For instance, for every ten students visiting the Museum, one adult will go free to act in a supervisory role during the visit.

So if you are a teacher, parent or school representative that would like to bring a class for a tour of the museum, please contact the Museum today.

About your visit The GAA Museum is located just north of Dublin city centre in Croke Park Stadium, between Drumcondra and Ballybough. You can access the Museum on the Cusack side which is on St. Joseph's Avenue.

Offering a fun day out for all, both the GAA Museum and Croke Park Stadium Tour are suitable for all ages and fully wheelchair-­friendly. Although they are easily accessible by public transport or on foot from Dublin city centre, for those of you travelling by car, there is free on-­site car and coach parking available. An indoor eating area is provided for groups wishing to bring packed lunches, however prior notice is required for use of this facility.

To find out more visit crokepark.ie/gaamuseum.

Find OUT MORE For school group discounts and other information: Phone: +353 (01) 819 2374 Email: tours@crokepark.ie Web: www.crokepark.ie

Pick up your Teacher’s Resource Pack The GAA Museum has produced a primary school teachers’ resource pack entitled A History of the GAA -­ From Cú Chulainn to Shefflin.

This resource pack is designed to help primary school teache r s p l a n a n educational visit to the GAA Museum in Croke Park. To get your copy, please email education@ crokepark.ie.

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College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, UCC

Arts - acquiring skills for the real world It is the skills that Arts graduates acquire while studying for their degree that employers are most interested in

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eptember is the busiest time of year in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences at UCC. We have students returning to second, third and fourth year on the eight undergraduate degree programmes we offer.

But, more importantly, we have students registering for first year of these degrees.

We are very conscious that coming to College for the first time is a big change for many students and while first years attend a very comprehensive orientation programme before term begins, the following are some of the concerns most frequently raised by students.

Mentoring for First Year Students At orientation all first years meet and are linked with a student from second or third year of the same degree programme. This ‘peer support leader’ will guide you at orientation and can show you what life at UCC is all about.

Your peer support leader will give you their contact details and will meet with you as little or as often as you like during the

year to offer a friendly and confidential ear as well as providing practical, emotional and social support to you in your first year in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. Mostly peer support leaders can offer you their take on life at UCC and offer some practical help in dealing with issues that they themselves experienced in first year.

In addition, all first year students in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences are assigned an academic member of staff under the CACSSS Personal Tutor Scheme. The aim of this scheme is to help students make a smooth transition from secondary school to University. Your personal tutor will be happy to help you with any aspect of your academic life at UCC. What subject to choose?

The College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences offers students the choice

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of 29 subjects in CK101. Some subjects will be familiar from school like English and History and some will be completely new like Philosophy and Sociology.

Because you have to register for four subjects before the year starts (and before you have even tried anything), it is understandable if you are afraid to try a new subject in case you don’t like it and opt, instead, to play it safe and register for a subject you know.

Many students do not realise that for the first five weeks of term, you can attend any lecture in any subject. As many subjects as you like, in fact.

If you find a subject or subjects that you like more than those you are register for, then you can simply call to the College office and, if the subject isn’t full, switch into it then and there. So, use the first five weeks of term to make sure that you are registered for the best subjects for you. >>> Education 17

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"Holders of an Arts degree with good overall results have already proven that they are willing to learn, that they are dependable, motivated and committed with good oral, presentation and written skills" New Subject – Portuguese Brazil is now rapidly moving to the forefront of the word stage and, as a result, Portuguese is becoming a language of increased global significance. Responding to the need to equip students with the skills to deal with a fast-changing global workplace, the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences at UCC are expanding

Celebrating 50 years of TV The School of History, in partnership with RTÉ, will evaluate 50 years of television in Ireland with a conference on campus at the Aula Maxima UCC on Saturday 8 September.

Fifth year and Leaving Certificate students from more than 15 schools have signed up to attend this exciting event.

The conference will be opened by Minister Pat Rabbitte and speakers will include important names from television (e.g. Noel Curran, Director General of RTE and David McRedmond, CEO TV3), radio (e.g. Aine Lawlor (pictured), Morning Ireland) and journalism (e.g. John Bowman and Alison O’Connor).

our current suite of languages of French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese to include Portuguese as a subject in our BA degree.

With dedicated staff and native tutors of language, students will take Portuguese language as complete beginners and will also study the history and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world of Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique.

New International Pathway in CK101 From this year, all incoming students into CK101, the three-year BA programme, will have the option of extending their degree by one year and spending third year studying at a university in another country.

Living abroad for a year is a fantastic opportunity, it not only fosters maturity and independence, it also enhances cultural awareness and demonstrates commitment and adaptability, all attributes valued highly by employers.

We currently have links with Universities in Europe, USA, Canada, Brazil and China offering students a huge choice of destinations. Students indicate their preference for this pathway when they register for second year.

Why employers want Arts Graduates It is a fact that, in their careers, most Arts graduates never directly use the subjects

they study in their degree. It is also true that nearly half of the employers who contact the Careers Service in UCC are seeking graduates of any discipline.

It is the skills that Arts graduates acquire while studying for their degree that employers are most interested in. That and good overall results, of course. Intellectual skills (problem solving, researching and analysing data), social skills (communication, presentation, team work) and management skills (organisation, time/project management, IT skills) make Arts graduates the preferred employee for many employers.

Holders of an Arts degree with good overall results have already proven that they are willing to learn, that they are dependable, motivated and committed with good oral, presentation and written skills.

Look at our ‘Careers after an Arts Degree’ section on our homepage which features some of our Arts graduates who are now employed in such diverse areas as advertising, publishing, banking, forensics, film and theatre.

Find OUT MORE For further information or to arrange a school visit please email Karen Coughlan at Arts@ucc.ie. Scan our QR code or check out of School Leavers 2012 page at www.ucc.ie/en/cascsss/schoolleavers

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UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems

Studying Nursing or Midwifery at University College Dublin

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f you would like a rewarding, challenging and respected career, then nursing and midwifery are well worth considering.

Nursing and midwifery provide longterm, sustainable career opportunities.

You will become a professional clinician capable of integrating scientific and technical knowledge with the art of caring.

You will never stop learning- about health, about illness, about people and the world we live in – nurses continually engage in on-going professional education and UCD provides a wide range of postgraduate opportunities to suit your personal and professional needs throughout your career.

You will rarely have two days that are the same – nursing and midwifery are dynamic professions and offer enormous variety and challenge.

Although many qualified nurses and midwives work in hospitals, they can also work in a variety of settings, including community settings, e.g. as a Public Health Nurse, mental health services, management and administration, policy making, teaching and research.

WHY UCD NURSING or MIDWIFERY? Developments in healthcare are transforming the roles of nurses and midwives, leading to new and exciting career opportunities.

The UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems has developed innovative programmes to prepare our graduates to respond to these changes and to meet changing patient-care needs.

You will study in state-of-the-art facilities, including a top class clinical skills centre with interactive video equipment; you will be guided by academics that are experts in their field, and you will gain clinical experience at our renowned clinical partner sites.

Our support structures ensure that each student is allocated a Personal Tutor from day one on your programme to provide Find OUT MORE Find out more at: www.my ucd.ie Open Day: Saturday 17th November 2012

advice and guidance.

Our links with International partner schools allow students to choose 12 week international Erasmus placements as part of their studies.

By choosing to study with us, you become part of a greater community of people working together to shape the future of nursing and midwifery in Ireland and abroad.

UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems Are you looking for a rewarding, challenging and respected career?

If so, then a career in Nursing or Midwifery is the right career for you.

The UCD School of Nursing and Midwifery is Ireland’s leading University School of Nursing and Midwifery and we offer a choice of 4 major programmes in: • General Nursing • Children’s and General Nursing (Integrated)

• Psychiatric Nursing • Midwifery

The School is located in the state of the art Health Sciences Centre on the Belfield campus which includes a top class clinical skills centre. As a UCD student nurse or midwife you will have a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on clinical practice in one of our partner hospitals: • Mater Misericordiae University Hospital • St Vincent’s University Hospital • St Michael’s Hospital • Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital • St John of God Hospital • National Maternity Hospital These hospitals are centres of clinical excellence and will provide you with a variety of unrivalled clinical learning opportunities and experiences.

International study opportunities: You can also participate in the Erasmus Exchange programme and spend 12 weeks in another European country as part of your degree at UCD. There are excellent work and travel opportunities available in Ireland and throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Once qualified, you can also avail of a large range of further study opportunities provided by our graduate programmes.

For further information please see our website at:

www.ucd.ie/nmhs

Telephone: 7166407/7166488 • e-mail:nursing.midwifery@ucd.ie Education 19

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St. Nicholas College

Leaders in montessori teacher education

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mong the many institutes in Ireland offering teacher education, St. Nicholas College in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin provides degree programmes in this discipline. From Pestalozzi to Dewey’s progressive education, the Montessori Method has stood the test of time and is being used today in schools all over the world.

Dr. Maria Montessori, at the beginning of the twentieth century, based her childcentred on careful observation of what children revealed about their developmental needs. However, Montessori education in Ireland is synonymous with the preschool sector and it is important to dispel this misconception. Throughout Europe and the United States, the Montessori Method of Education is utilized both at Primary and Secondary level.

Today, as it was a century ago, education is rightly seen as a means to tackle poverty, inequality, anti-social behaviour and other ills of society. The fundamental problem with education is the lack of faith in the child to guide his/her own development and to guide the educators in supporting this task. Montessori Education worldwide shows that the child is best supported in an learning environment which meets all his/ her needs in order to become a valued member of his/her society.

Teacher's Role The teacher's role in the Montessori classroom is to observe children engaged in activities that follow their own natural interests. This indirect teaching to control the environment, not the child, contrasts sharply with the ordinary teacher's role of implementing a pre-determined curriculum.

For example, a Montessori class has the teacher resolving misbehavior by refocusing the child to some positive activity, freely chosen rather than engaging in the system of rewards and punishments.

Children learn from each other in a spontaneous manner that supports their

independent self-directed activity. In the family, in the workplace and society as a whole we are in constant interaction with those who are older or younger. Children in traditional schools are the only members of society segregated by age. A mixed-aged environment is an important feature of Montessori Education. Since the children need different environments at different stages in their development, classes are mixed within bands, for example, 3-6 yrs, 6-9yrs and 9-12yrs.

Each child is surrounded by role models a little more developed than him/her or becomes a role model for younger peers.

Similarly, the older child finds him/herself in a position of responsibility, and by showing younger children what s/he knows, affirms to him/herself, more surely than any test, the extent of his/her learning.

Co-operation replaces competition as the driving force within these mini-societies.

The auto-education facilitated by the prepared environment learning means that each child is always successful learning and developing at his/her own pace.

Degree programmes St. Nicholas Montessori College Ireland (SNMCI) offers the student the possibility of obtaining this degree either full-time or part time (ACCS mode). The degree programmes – (levels 7 & 8) and the Higher Diploma in Arts in Early Childhood Montessori Education (level 8) are accredited by The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) which is the qualifications awarding body for third level education and training institutes outside the university sector.

Stage 1 of the programme delivers the pre-school curriculum to students and requires them to have an internship of 200

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hours teaching practice in Montessori preschools. Stage 2 is the 6-9 curriculum and the students have a block of 6 weeks in Primary schools or Special Education schools.

The college has an Erasmus exchange with the Hogeschool in Rotterdam and 4 lucky Stage 2 students will spend from February to May attending college and complete the required teaching practice there.

Stage 3 requires the student to study the requirements for teaching children from 9-12 years which requires the student to teach for at least 6 weeks in the Primary sector, Montessori sector or Special

Education schools. Throughout the four years of study, all students become competent in implementing all aspects of the Primary School Curriculum 1999 utilising in particular the Montessori Method of Education to facilitate each child’s learning.

Students who have met the learning outcomes of the programme will be conferred with a level 7 degree and those who receive a merit grade will be interviewed and present their lesson plans portfolio for entry onto the level 8 programme.

However, in November 2009 the Teaching Council announced that only those with level 8 qualifications will be

eligible to register as Montessori Teachers from April 1st 2013. (Montessori Teachers are entitled to register for Restricted Recognition, as per DES Special Education circulars 25/00 and 36/06)). The College is now in the process of submitting a new suite of programmes for HETAC validation.

These will commence in September 2013.

Accordingly, the college recognises the need to differentiate its product and is also designing a level 6 Higher Certificate in the Montessori Method of Education for those wishing to obtain a qualification to teach in the pre-school sector only.

The College welcomes requests for further clarification – email info@snmci.ie.

Courses:

BA in Montessori Education (Level 7) BA in Montessori Education (Level 8) Higher Diploma in Montessori Education (Level 8)

Go to www.snmci.ie Call 01-2806064 / 01-2300080 email: info@snmci.ie or visit us at 16 Adelaide Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin or Century Court, 100 George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Education 21

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The WorkSmart Project

Helping people make considered, well-informed career choices

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HE WorkSmart Project’ is a programme of interactive workshops designed to bring 25 years of experience in recruitment supply and career guidance to students and adults nationwide. Developed with the aim of helping students and jobseekers to make considered, well-informed career choices, ‘The WorkSmart Project’ provides an honest breakdown of the jobs market and advice on how to plan for its future.

It also assists participants from second-level education in making choices regarding their academic career and provides a number of support services such as individual coaching and psychometric assessment, and is available for advance booking at schools, libraries and community venues nationwide throughout the year.

Mary Carroll, director of Career Consultants, says, ‘Now, more than ever, students and jobseekers need an accurate picture of the Irish job market, as well as honest advice on how they can secure their futures. Cpl has monitored and catered to that same job market for 25 years, and as part of the Cpl group, our information is current, our advice relevant.’

Greg McGeough of Career Consultants says, ‘The WorkSmart Project is for everyone – from students to graduates, to jobseekers.

We tell it like it is with no political jargon and absolutely no condescending language. We want participants to find what they’re interested in, find what they’re good at, and find a job or a college course that will satisfy both.’

FIND OUT MORE For further information, visit www.theworksmartproject.com or contact info@theworksmartproject.com

The new Peugeot 208 has arrived Peugeot’s eagerly awaited 208 super-mini has arrived in Ireland. The new hatchback from Peugeot draws on all the strengths and successes of Peugeot’s iconic 205, the 206 and the European best-selling 207. It will retail in Ireland from e14,495 plus dealer delivery related charges for the new 1.0 petrol 68bhp 3 door version.

The 208 adopts the new Peugeot style lines seen on the new Peugeot 508 and facelift 308. Sporting a floating grille, newly sculpted lights and boomerang rear lamps, the new Peugeot 208 appears sporty and athletic.

assembly will be made using recycled materials, permitting a saving in manufacturing of 1600 tonnes of fuel a year.

Des Cannon, Peugeot Sales and Marketing Director said, “The 208 has just arrived in Dealer showrooms around the country and has begun to draw much interest from eagerly awaiting customers. With the launch of 208, Peugeot aims to reclaim leadership of the competitive small car in Europe next year. We aim to register 1000 units in 2013. Peugeot’s new 208 will indeed boost our market share to over 4% next year.”

Smaller on the outside than 207 (7cm shorter and 1cm lower), 208 offers more room inside for rear passengers (+5cm at the knees) and a more generous boot (+15dm3 in volume). It weighs on average 110kg less than 207, leading to lower CO2 emissions and lower fuel consumption.

The 208’s interior will see a true break from what has gone before.

An elevated instrument panel positioned directly in front of the driver gives information at a glance whilst a small steering wheel adds to driving enjoyment.

Available in both 3-door and 5-door hatchback and with a choice of three trims, Access, Active and Allure, all 208 models will come equipped with ESP and six airbags.

The 208 engine range for Ireland will include a 1.0 litre 68bhp petrol model (99g/CO2), a 1.2 litre 82bhp petrol model (104g/CO2), a 1.4 litre 68bhp HDi diesel model (98g/CO2) and a 1.4 litre 68bhp eHDi diesel model (87g/CO2) with Stop Start technology. 65% of sales are expected to be petrol models. Achieving average CO2 emissions of 34g/km lower than the 207, the 208 will take the lead in its segment for lowest CO2 emissions.

The new Peugeot 208 has been awarded 5 stars by Euro NCAP. Under new and even more demanding criteria, Peugeot’s 208 is the first car in its segment to obtain 5 stars, the highest rating possible.

Peugeot has entered a new era in terms of eco-design with the 208 and 25% of the materials used to construct the new car will be sourced from recycled materials. A world first, the 208’s rear bumper and its fan

PEUGEOT 208 ACCESS 3 DOOR 1.0 68BHP PETROL: .............................................. e14,495 PEUGEOT 208 ACCESS 5 DOOR 1.2 82BHP PETROL: .............................................. e15,595 PEUGEOT 208 ACTIVE 5 DOOR 1.2 82BHP PETROL: ............................................... e17,295 PEUGEOT 208 ACCESS 5 DOOR 1.4 HDi 70BHP DIESEL: ........................................e17,095 PEUGEOT 208 ACTIVE 5 DOOR 1.4 HDi 70BHP DIESEL: ........................................e18,795 PEUGEOT 208 ALLURE 5 DOOR 1.4 70BHP DIESEL: ................................................. e20,095 PEUGEOT 208 ALLURE ECOMATIQUE 5 DOOR 1.4 HDi 70BHP DIESEL: ..........e21,395

www.peugeot.ie

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IT Sligo

IT Sligo – offering environmental courses for almost 40 years

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T Sligo was the first third level institution in the country to offer environmental courses and almost 40 years later it is still blazing a trail in this area.

New courses have been designed to meet the challenges posed by a massive volume of legislation covering everything from noise pollution to wastewater management, and graduates of the Institute are well equipped to guide industry and society to a greener, more energy efficient environment.

A lot has changed since the college launched the country’s first Environmental Science course in 1975. Increased awareness of the need to protect the environment has come at a high price, as climate change and increased threats to biodiversity and water sources have created unprecedented challenges. new B.Sc introduced Last year IT Sligo introduced a new B.Sc. in Energy, Sustainability & Environment (Level 7) whose graduates will have the expertise to help industry and communities reduce carbon emissions. Students are being trained in how to monitor and conserve energy, implement energy efficient systems and promote the use of renewable energy sources.

The course is a perfect fit with the long established Environmental Protection (Level 7) and Environmental Science (Level 8) programmes which have been producing graduates since 1975 and 1986 respect i v e l y. T h e i r ro l e i n v o l v e s a d v i s i n g employers on the implementation of

n IT Sligo researcher Carlos Vanegas is investigating the energy properties of seaweed.

IT Sligo has been offering courses in environmental science for almost 40 years.

European and Irish law and the management of pollution control facilities as well as soil, water and air testing. tried and tested To date the Institute has produced over 1,300 graduates from these two tried and tested programmes alone.

The Occupational Safety & Health (Levels 7 and 8) programmes are another illustration of how IT Sligo has adapted to the changing needs of industry, in for example the pharmaceutical, food and electronic sectors.

“There was a time when companies had an Environmental Officer and a separate Health & Safety Officer but increasingly these roles have combined and the current suite of courses are very much geared to

Student Profile Name: Ruth Hegarty, Strandhill, Co Sligo Course: BSc (HONS) in Environmental Science Year of Graduation: 2010 Qualifications: 1:1. Recipient of IT Sligo Governing Body Medal Ruth is currently researching the sustainable business practices of global higher education (HE) and supersector corporate sustainability leaders. She is also preparing to transfer from a Master's degree to the Doctoral Register at IT Sligo.

“In year three I studied environmental management which was very pertinent to my current research into sustainable business practices.

“I also carried out an environmental review of the IT Sligo campus as part of my final year project,” she said.

that need,” explained Dr Billy Fitzgerald, Head of the Department of Environmental Science at IT Sligo.

He believes that the strength of the Environmental courses at the Institute is that they produce “general practitioners” or multi-skilled environmental officers who can advise on everything from storage of chemicals to wastewater treatment and monitoring of emissions.

“The focus on the environment is going to intensify if anything, not least because of an avalanche of new legislation which industry must comply with”, explained Dr Fitzgerald. For that reason he believes an environmental qualification is an attractive option for undergraduates worried about their job prospects.

New Engineering degree Another course about to launch at IT Sligo this September is a new three year Ordinary Bachelor of Engineering degree programme in Environmental Engineering.

Trevor McSharry, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction said that amid a growing focus on effective water provision, environmental protection and sustainable development, the course has attracted unprecedented interest from potential employers as well as from students.

Find OUT MORE www.itsligo.ie www.facebook.com/itsligo Education 25

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Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture

A long history of gardening training T he Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture located at the National Botanic Gardens is the premier place for horticultural education and training in Ireland offering the widest range of fully accredited courses. Our classroom stretches out beyond its four walls to include all the vast plant collection of this great garden.

The National Botanic Gardens itself has a long history of training in gardening since it took on its first garden pupils in 1838. There have been a lot of changes since then of course and now the education and training in horticulture is conducted by Teagasc.

Horticulture and its products play such an intrinsic part in our daily lives that they can often be overlooked. They are present on so many occasions: at all the key events of birth, marriage and death flowers are used; every time we sit down to a meal that includes vegetables or fruit; when we relax in a garden or park; as we walk a tree lined pavement or drive on a landscaped motorway; on the football fields or golf courses we play sport on; in the surroundings of our buildings both outside and inside. Horticulture is interwoven into the fabric of our lives yet it may often go unnoticed and not get the recognition it deserves.

Horticultural education and training in Ireland has evolved greatly since 1838 and especially over the past decade. This has resulted in a large number of courses being available at various levels of qualification and with the possibility of specialisation in areas of particular interest. care for the environment The huge development in amenity horticulture that has occurred in Ireland is reflected very much in the content of our horticultural courses. Much of the horticultural content is orientated towards the amenity areas of landscape design, construction and maintenance, sportsturf studies, public authority parks management, garden centre operation, nursery stock production but also includes the areas of food production and market gardening which are now increasingly popular.

A sense of care for the environment must be paramount in horticultural education as there are many horticultural practices that can be harmful to the environment from the introduction of plants that may be unsafe, such as pest and disease infected plants, or plants that may become serious weeds like Giant Hogweed or the blue flowered Speedwell weed in lawns – both introduced in the past as ‘ornamental plants’.

Add to all of this a flair for design which many students exhibit and enhance while at College and ultimately form a career in this sphere. One can truly say that a horticultural occupation is a place where science, art and business meet.

Find OUT MORE National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9.

Telephone: 01 8040201 • Email: botanic.college@teagasc.ie Web: www.teagasc.ie/botanicgardens www.wit.ie • www.dcu.ie

A career in Horticulture Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture offers the following courses in the unique setting of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

Certificates in Horticulture, Greenkeeping and Floristry Honours Degree in partnership with Dublin City University (DC 170) Ordinary Degree in partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology (WD 097) Careers in Landscape Design and Construction

Careers in Garden Centres Greenkeeping

Research Advisory Education

Garden Estates

Parks and Botanic Gardens

Grounds Maintenance

Application procedure: Degree Courses CAO application process www.cao.ie Certificate Course application forms and further information from: Teagasc, College Administration Office, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9.

Telephone: 01 8040201 • Email: botanic.college@teagasc.ie Web: www.teagasc.ie/botanicgardens www.wit.ie • www.dcu.ie

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Student Projects

Miscarriages of Justice in Ireland A University of Limerick Student Project

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he University of Limerick Miscarriages of Justice in Ireland Project is an educational and informational project set up by ten fourth year students in the Bachelor of Laws (Law Plus) programme.

In the final year of their studies, all Law Plus students take part in an Advanced Lawyering project, which is an innovative and practical module aimed at giving students an opportunity to put to practical use the analytical and research skills they have developed throughout their four years at UL. The Miscarriages of Justice in Ireland (MOJI) project has two main aims. First, it allows students to undertake a detailed research project to learn more about Miscarriages of Justice and the Innocence Project Network, explored from an Irish perspective.

Secondly, it aims to present this information as a user-friendly e-resource for fellow students, victims of miscarriages of justice, their families and the wider community.

The website itself was entirely a student initiative, and it was written entirely and exclusively by the students themselves.

The main aim of the website is to raise awareness of the issue of miscarriages of justice in Ireland, something which has to date been lacking. The website contains a comprehensive account of the development of Innocence Projects internationally, as well as a detailed explanation and examination of what exactly a Miscarriage of Justice is, and how they have been dealt with by the Irish legal system.

student-driven

Advanced Lawyering

The project was entirely student-driven, with students determining the subject matter, breadth and depth of their research.

The School of Law in the University of Limerick is dedicated to ensuring that our Law graduates are equipped with invalu-

The website has four key areas: - What is a Miscarriage of Justice - Causes of Miscarriages of Justice - Responding to Miscarriages of Justice - Reform It is anticipated that the research will be developed further by students on the programme in the coming years, and hoped that the resource will prove useful to students, academics, policy makers and community members.

Plain Language Oftentimes, legal documents are written using dense, archaic and incomprehensible language. The MOJI project is fully committed to the use of Plain Legal Language throughout the research and analyses included in the website. The project strives to make the information provided on this site intelligible to the widest possible audience.

The students firmly believed that there can be no justification for the use of

incomprehensible, legal language in light of the serious ramifications of miscarriages of justice and their potential infringement of the most fundamental rights of Irish citizens.

The commitment of the project to the use of Plain Language is largely a response to the worldwide Plain Language Movement which advocates the use of direct, coherent language in the drafting of legal documents.

By Jennifer Schweppe and Dr Eimear Spain School of Law, University of Limerick able transferable skills, including oral and written communication skills, analytical and logical reasoning skills, negotiation, legal research, organisational and team work skills.

The Advanced Lawyering module aims to builds these skills and in the first semester focuses on imparting students with an understanding of the alternative mechanisms for solving disputes outside the legal system (Alternative Dispute Resolution) and the skills inherent in these processes, an area of increasing importance to legal professionals in modern times.

ADR has been hailed as a wonderful alternative to the woes of traditional adversarial trials and the importance placed on ADR is reflected in many recent developments including the Arbitration Act 2010, the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 and recent amendments to Court Procedure Rules.

The School of Law in the University of Limerick has shown significant foresight in ensuring that their students have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in this changing legal environment by introducing ADR as a compulsory module in the Law Plus programme, the only University in Ireland to do so at undergraduate level.

In the second semester the Advanced Lawyering module focuses on giving final year students the opportunity to develop their skills and deepen their understanding of the legal process in an area of particular interest.

Students had the opportunity to choose between a number of projects, of which MOJI was one: others included a Student

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What are the causes of miscarriages of justice in Ireland?

A number of variables have been identified as leading to miscarriages of justice in jurisdictions around the world.

The six primary causes of miscarriages of justice identified by the Innocence Project (see box right) are: • Eyewitness Misidentification • Unvalidated or Improper Forensic Science • False Confessions / Admissions • Government Misconduct • Informants or Snitches • Bad Lawyering In an Irish context, the Garda Síochána have played an important role in several high profile cases of miscarriages of justice. The 'heavy gang' was a term which emerged in the 1970's which described detectives who had become specialists in extracting confessions from suspects.

They are alleged to have used a variety of tactics including verbal intimidation, physical abuse and mental abuse with the aim of eliciting confessions from suspects which were concocted or 'stitched up'.

(Walsh, 1999).

An Amnesty International investigation into allegations of ill-treatment of suspects in police custody in 1977 concluded that a number of persons had been ill-treated, confirming the belief that a 'heavy gang' was operating within the gardai.

Law Journal, a Sentencing Project and a project examining Global Legal Traditions.

Research Based Teaching This project emerged from research interests of two faculty members, Jennifer Schweppe and Dr Eimear Spain. Both are actively engaged in research in the areas of criminal law and criminal procedure.

Transferable Skills Central to the MOJI project were three core skill components: writing, presenting and group work with emphasis placed on the translational aspects of the project.

Students worked in two separate groups, writing and presenting their research in both an individual and group context.

Their group reports were used as the basis of the content on the website, and thus, they had to ‘translate’ their research from formal and dense legal language into information which was accessible and intelligible to the general public.

Find OUT MORE tinyurl.com/7avg88e

The Innocence Project The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld to assist prisoners who could be proven innocent through DNA testing. To date, 292 people in the United States have been exonerated by DNA testing, including 17 who served time on death row. These people served an average of 13 years in prison before exoneration and release.

The profile case below is of Dennis Maher who was released after 19 years in prison after DNA evidence proved he was not the perpetrator of the crimes he was convicted of.

On November 16, 1983, a 28-year-old woman was attacked as she was walking home from work in Lowell, Massachusetts. An unknown man accosted her and tried to engage her in conversation before forcing her into a nearby yard, where he sexually assaulted her. The following evening, a 23-year-old woman was attacked less than one hundred yards away from the site of the first assault.

The second victim had been on her way home from work when she was pushed to the ground by a man wielding a knife. She was able to escape her assailant after a vehement struggle and notified the police. The victim described her attacker as a man wearing a red, hooded sweatshirt and a khaki military-style jacket.

Dennis Maher was stopped and questioned by police on the night of the second attack. He was wearing a red, hooded sweatshirt and a subsequent search of his vehicle turned up an army field jacket, a military issue knife, and a rain slicker. Maher, then a sergeant in the United States Army, was arrested and charged with the two attacks, as well as an unsolved rape that occurred the previous summer in Ayer, Massachusetts.

Though their descriptions varied, all three victims identified Maher in photographic lineups.

The Lowell attacks were tried together.

Although no biological evidence linked him to the crime, Maher was convicted of both crimes. A month later, he was convicted of the Ayer rape, where biological evidence was introduced but never tested. The prosecution relied, instead, on the identifications made by the victims.

Maher had always asserted his innoc e n c e . I n 1 9 9 3 , h e w ro t e t o t h e Innocence Project. The Project tried repeatedly to gain access to the biological evidence collected from the victims but was told that the evidence could not be

located. In 2000, the case was transferred to the New England Innocence Project.

The case picked up momentum when, in 2001, a law student discovered two boxes of evidence from the Lowell case in the basement of the Middlesex County

Courthouse. The boxes contained the pants and underwear collected from the rape victim. The Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory found seminal stains on the underwear and possible blood stains on the pants. The New England Innocence Project and the prosecution agreed to send the evidence to Forensic Science Associates (FSA) for DNA testing.

Testing performed on the pants did not yield conclusive results. Testing on the underwear, however, produced a genetic profile that excluded Dennis Maher as the donor of spermatozoa to the sample.

Shortly after testing was completed, prosecutors were able to locate a slide from the Ayer case, which was sent to Orchid Cellmark for testing. Results from the Ayer evidence were received in March 2003, again excluding Maher as the source of spermatozoa.

After reviewing the results, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office joined with the Innocence Projects in filing a motion to grant Maher a new trial and agreed to drop all charges against him.

On April 3, 2003, after 19 years of proclaiming his innocence, Dennis Maher was exonerated and freed from prison. www.innocenceproject.org Education 29

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Distance Learning

Centre for Distance Learning at UCD School of Business

U

CD School of Business established the Centre for Distance Learning (CDL) in December 2002, and since then its popularity has grown in tandem with its reputation for providing excellent part-time learning opportunities in a supportive environment.

The Centre has responsibility for the management of the School’s distance learning programmes. A key feature of the programmes is the learner support provided to its part-time students, many of whom are in employment and located around Ireland and abroad.

Distance learning offers the flexibility for participants to study at anytime and anywhere, whether in Ireland or abroad. The programmes are designed to accommodate professionals who wish to continue to pursue their career goals while studying part-time or those who wish to up-skill to meeting the changing needs of a modern business environment.

Diploma in Business Studies/Bachelor of Business Studies (part-time) One of the Centre’s most popular options is the Bachelor of Business Studies four-year, part-time Degree programme. A Diploma in Business Studies is awarded after successfully completing the first two years and Bachelor of Business Studies (Honours) is awarded on completion of a further two years. Combining learning at a distance with occasional weekend attendance at UCD Quinn School of Business, the programme is tailor-made for adult learners.

Associate Director of the Centre for Distance Learning, Dr Linda Dowling-Hetherington explained, “Many participants join the programme with a view to improving their job prospects and for career advancement and career change reasons.”

Des Donohoe is currently a Year 3 student on the degree programme and highlights one of the main benefits of the part-time DBS/BBS degree at UCD is the flexibility is terms of study stating that “I don’t have a daily commute to UCD and with my work and personal schedule; this aspect stands out the most. Having the ability to work online and remotely from any place in the world with access to UCD online library resources is a fantastic facility for parttime students.

Mr Donohoe also states “the programme provides a weekly study schedule on each module and on what topics should be covered. I feel the mixture of the online resources and class lectures are well balanced. Overall I find this course beneficial as it allows me to combine work and personal commitments with study.”

Student profile: Victor del Rosal Student, Masters in Management 2011-2013 On August of 2011 I was at the start of a new chapter in my professional life. After changing continents, I arrived to Ireland with a background in Industrial and Systems Engineering and the eagerness to further my career.

I had searched for a Masters programme to help me understand the Irish and European business context and one that would give me an edge when looking for full-time employment. To achieve it, the Masters in Management (two-year part-time programme) at the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School was the natural choice for me.

I realised that the School’s associations with the workplace would put me in a favourable position to connect with Irish employers. This proved to be the case. Through the career’s office, I found a dynamic role in the consulting space, working full-time in a multinational company in Dublin.

Overall, the comprehensive curriculum tailored to today’s business world, a network of peers (now friends) with significant work experience, and a flexible part-time programme is allowing me to significantly advance my career.

Master in Management (part-time) The Centre for Distance Learning also offer a Masters in Management (part-time) programme which will commence in early September. This programme is taken over two years and has been designed specifically for those non-business graduates who unable to complete a Masters programme on a full-time basis.

According to Dr Dowling-Hetherington, “The programme is designed for non-business graduates who wish to pursue or further develop a career in business. It is available to graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including arts, engineering, law, science and computing science.

The course delivers a well-rounded knowledge of the theories, practices and skills of business and management and is delivered by a faculty of leading academics and industry experts. The programme draws upon UCD Business School’s long established tradition of offering part-time business programmes by distance learning”.

Find OUT MORE www.ucd.ie/distancelearning Education 33

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Griffith College Dublin

Undergraduate and postgraduate offerings at Griffith College

G

riffith College is Ireland’s largest independent third level institution with campuses in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and strong overseas links. It is this reach combined with Griffith’s smaller class sizes, allowing for more personal lectures and readily available support throughout the year, that makes Griffith College a leading institution in terms of academic excellence and flexible learning options for students.

Griffith College is also closely aligned with professional bodies and the various industries relevant to their faculties. Some examples of these highly beneficial relationships include: students who complete the BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance are eligible for up to nine exemptions from the 14 ACCA papers; journalism students are entitled to an NUJ press pass; and fashion design students have the opportunity to win a scholarship with some of Ireland’s leading designers including Louis Copeland and Jennifer Rothwell.

The results speak for themselves with Griffith College students regularly featuring on the list of prize winners in the ACCA accountancy exams, the FE1 entrance exams to The Law Society of Ireland, the Student Media Awards, fashion design competitions and many more.

Other business degree courses on offer include the aforementioned BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance (students can gain up to 9 ACCA exemptions), BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management, BA in Business and the BA in Marketing. The Hospitality course offers both a management focused and practical element.

Students complete 1000 hours of work experience before their final year allowing them to develop their management and professional skills.

superb facilities

postgraduate options

In addition to the academic support systems in place at the college, superb facilities for students are available throughout Griffith College including on-campus accommodation, free parking, restaurant, shops, a common room, fitness room and an active Students’ Union which maintains a busy social calendar.

Griffith College provides level 6, 7 and 8 qualifications on the CAO, which are all on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and recognised both nationally and internationally. Courses in the areas of computing, business, law, hospitality, media, photography and design are all on offer and students can apply via the CAO and also directly online at www.gcd.ie.

In addition to its renowned undergraduate programme, Griffith College offers a wide range of postgraduate options across its campuses. Career-focused MA, MSc, MBA, LLM and Higher Diploma programmes are offered in a range of disciplines including Computing Science, Applied Digital Media, International Law, Journalism & Media Communications, Music Education, International Business and Accounting & Finance. All programmes are externally validated and internationally recognised.

The award-winning, career focused School of Professional Accountancy offers programmes designed to prepare students for the ACCA examinations. Since 1988 Griffith College has had almost 300 students recognised for their performance in these exams, six of which have been first in the world and an impressive 81 students have been awarded first place in Ireland.

Business For students interested in a career in business or management, the Business Studies

degree at Griffith College provides a firm grounding in the key principles of finance, HRM, IT, management, marketing and economics and also allows final year students to specialise in a variety of areas. The programme is available full-time or parttime and is a popular choice for mature students and those currently in employment.

The College also offers CIMA, CPA, and Accounting Technicians.

Graduate Business School The Graduate Business School at Griffith College provides programmes in International Business at MSc and MBA levels in full and part time courses. These programmes prepare graduates for the world of international business by providing an educational experience which is strongly vocational, academically rigorous and intellectually challenging - a key stepping stone to a career in international business management.

Professional Law School The Griffith College Professional Law School provides a highly sought after part-time preparatory course for the Law Society’s Final Examinations (FE1’s). This course has seen many students over the past number of years awarded first place in Ireland following their exam results. It also offers a King’s Inns preparation course.

The Law School also offers the internationally recognised postgraduate law degree, the LLM (Master of Laws) in International Law, International Commercial Law or International Human Rights Law. These courses are one-year full-time programmes that provide advanced and specialised legal training. The LLM degree prepares law graduates for work in a multinational legal environment. A number of postgraduate diplomas and certificates in law are also provided at Griffith College. postgraduate computing With an increase in the demand for ICT and computing skills in the Irish market, Griffith College has also seen an uptake in its postgraduate computing courses. The faculty of computing science offers a range of courses including an MSc in Computing Science; an MSc in Applied Digital Media; Postgraduate Diploma in Networking; P o s t g r a d u a t e D i p l o m a i n S o f t w a re Development and a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Management.

Find OUT MORE For more information about undergraduate or postgraduate courses at Griffith College, please visit www.gcd.ie.

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Non uniform day in aid of the Syrian Children’s Emergency Appeal: Friday 26th October

L

ast year hundreds of schools took part in our annual non uniform day in aid of the children of East Africa.

The pupils of Ireland raised over €30,000 and helped us to reach out to thousands of vulnerable children providing food, medicine, shelter and protection.

When we went through the many notes attached to the donations last year, it stuck us that that young pupils in Ireland, whilst cherishing their Irish heritage, are increasingly viewing themselves as global citizens.

It is in this context that UNICEF Ireland is reaching out to the schools of Ireland to make our 3rd annual non uniform day our biggest and most successful yet. join us Please join us and thousands of pupils across the country on Friday 26th October 2012 and hold a non-uniform day in your school. We would ask that each pupil donate just €1 towards our Syria children’s emergency appeal.

A combination of escalating violence, inaccessible services and disruption of livelihoods has put the lives of 1.5 million people at risk and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in Syria. Tens of thousands of Syrian children have been forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in neighbouring countries. Growing numbers of children are facing psychological distress caused by witnessing violence and displacement. Schools have closed or become too dangerous for families to reach.

training as we know that in such instances of violent upheaval often nothing can make a child feel more secure and safe than having a school to go to.

Please help us to reach even more vulnerable Syrian children and hold a non-uniform day in your school on Friday 26th October 2012 and donate just €1 per pupil. register

vulnerable children We are already working to integrate children into public schools, ensuring children are granted free access, and providing vulnerable children with school bags, uniforms and other supplies.

We have responded to the urgent protection needs of children by expanding the range of child-friendly spaces offering safe recreation, remedial education and life-skills

Please register your school today by contacting Eleanor on 01 878 3000 or emailing eleanor@unicef.ie. We would be delighted to help you with any classroom or project materials you may need to help explain this sensitive issue to your young pupils.

Thank you on behalf of the children we serve.

The team at UNICEF Ireland.

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38 Education

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40 Education

Leargas 25-3.indd 1

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Dear Diane, I managed to work at the texts. Therefore, if it is not too late, the following are the advert for a ! page (@ "300), accompanied with an editorial, as you suggested.

The following ad is attached as a Word document, and as a PDF document if more practical.

Living Language

Living A Foreign Language EXCERP, by Sheila Wayman, journalist

M

ICHAEL John Murphy admits that on his first day alone aged 15 in a French boarding school in Le Mans, “I was in the toilet crying, calling my parents” on a mobile phone he had smuggled in. Like his two sisters before him, he was spending transition year in France because their mother, Barbara Murphy, believed it was beneficial not only for their language skills but also for their personal development.

He enrolled as a weekly boarder and spent the weekends in Paris with the family of another boy at the school. The daily regime involved lessons – all through French – from 8.30am to 5pm and then at least two hours of evening study before going to the dorms at 9pm and lights out at 10.30pm.

Director Jean-Marc Bourguignon stressed that preparation is key for success. There is an enrolment test to determine abilities, briefing of parents and child, and then a language crash course before leaving Ireland. On arrival, there is a four-day preparatory course for the small group of teenagers who have travelled with Bourguignon from Ireland before they are placed individually in different, usually private schools, where they either board or live with a family vetted by the school.

TRANSITION YEAR: School Term(s) in FRANCE /SPAIN /GERMANY Tailor made individual academic Placement: ! Private Boarding /at the home of a student ! Full Assessment, Briefing and Preparation ! Private Tuition & Consistent Support 5th YEAR: 2-week Intensive Course - June FRANCE /SPAIN

! Immersion in French Private Boarding schools

! 70 hrs French tuition & 20 hrs assisted study ! Classes of max. 10 students [streamlined] ! Mock Leaving Cert oral and written exams ! Sporting and cultural activities Also DUBLIN [D16 /D4 /D15] 3rd - 4th YEAR 2-week French & Sports FRANCE /DUBLIN [D16 /D4 /D15] - July Oral French classes in the morning Sports shared with French students (zip-lining, sailing, tennis, GAA etc.)

LIVING LANGUAGE CONTACT LTD. Reg Dublin Castle Nov 1979 ! +353-1. 660.4911/660.4704 " 660.4714 � info@livinglanguage.ie

See next page

Match amical de football gaëlique, June 1010

« De prochains bacheliers irlandais en séjour linguistique dans des institutions privées de Laval et Mayenne, sous la responsabilité de Jean-Marc Bourguignon et Patrick Deprez de Living Language de Dublin ont été heureux de pratiquer leur sport favori face a l’équipe liffréenne. La rencontre arbitrée par Philippe Cornilleau a tourné a l’avantage de celle-ci: les visiteurs n’ayant pas de chaussures a crampons… »

Education 41

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Relationships

ACCORD Golden Jubilee.

ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service (formerly CMAC) celebrates its Golden Jubilee this year. It is fifty years since the first Centre was opened in Belfast in 1962.

ACCORD actually had its origins in the British army. The parent organisation, the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, was the brainchild of a Catholic officer, Major Graham John GrahamGreen. A lawyer in civilian life, his duties in the aftermath of the Second World War included helping troops in London with marriage problems.

He came to the conclusion that there should be a separate organisation for Catholic personnel. By coincidence his wife Eirene, a social worker, had arrived at the same conclusion for Catholic civilians. He approached Cardinal Griffin and so the CMAC was founded.

The growth of CMAC in Ireland was truly remarkable. Between 1962, when the first centre was opened in Belfast, and 1975, when Fr. Andy Kennedy became the first director in Ireland, no less than 40 centres were established with the help of CMAC headquarters in London. This is all the more remarkable when it is remembered that Ireland was a separate country with a separate hierarchy.

Formal separation of the two organisations did not end their relationship. Tutors from the two countries continued to train together and conferences in each country were always attended by representatives from the other, to the benefit of both. More important was the common bond of being Eucharistic communities engaged in non-directive counselling of people with marriage difficulties in a Christian context.

For more on Accord's services details visit www.accord.ie.

Catholic Marriage Care Service

Are you getting married in 2012?

Prepare well with ACCORD Attend an ACCORD Marriage Preparation Course by booking on-line or contact your local ACCORD Centre (60 locations nationwide)

Visit www.accord.ie for more details

CIVIL DEFENCE SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Are you up to the challenge?

Students interested in becoming Volunteer members of Civil Defence should contact their local Civil Defence Officer Volunteers are multi-skilled and the main programmes of activity undertaken by the organisation are: UÊÊ >ÃÕ> ÌÞ\Ê*À Û Ã Ê vÊ>ÊwÀÃÌ > `Ê> `Ê> LÕ > ViÊÃiÀÛ Vi UÊÊ,iÃVÕi\Ê1ÀL> ÊÀiÃVÕi]Ê «i ÊV Õ ÌÀÞÊÃi>ÀV Êv ÀÊ ÃÃ }Ê«iÀÃ ÃÊ> `ÊÜ>ÌiÀÊL>Ãi`ÊÃi>ÀV Ê> `ÊÀiV ÛiÀÞ UÊÊ ÕÝ >ÀÞÊ ÀiÊ-iÀÛ Vi\Ê*Õ «Ê> `Ê >``iÀÊ`À Ã]Ê«Õ « }Êy `Ü>ÌiÀÃÊ> `ÊÃÕ«« Þ }ÊÜ>ÌiÀÊÌ ÊÌ iÊ Õ ÌÞ UÊÊ7>À`i Ê-iÀÛ ViÊEÊ,>` >Ì Ê Ì À }\Ê,>` >Ì Ê`iÌiVÌ }Ê> `Ê Ì À } UÊÊ7i v>Ài\Ê*À Û Ã Ê vÊ ÌÊ i> Ã]Ê`À ÃÊ> `Ê«ÃÞV Ã V > ÊÃÕ«« ÀÌ UÊÊ Õ V>Ì Ã\Ê"«iÀ>Ì Ê vÊÌÜ Ê `i«i `i ÌÊÀ>` ÊÃÞÃÌi Ã

To learn more about Civil Defence you can log on to our website at www.civildefence.ie

42 Education

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Tours

The story of the capital City Hall, situated in the heart of Dublin is an outstanding example of the Georgian architecture for which Dublin is world-renowned. Designed

by Thomas Cooley, it was built by the Guild of Merchants as the Royal Exchange and used as a financial centre until Dublin Corporation bought the building in 1851. It was re-named 'City Hall' in 1852 at the first meeting held there of Dublin City Council.

City Hall was the hub of Dublin’s civic administration until 1995, when Dublin Corporation moved its headquarters to the newly completed Civic Offices at Wood Quay. It was then refurbished from 1998-2000, and was open to the public in 2000. It is still the focal point for the Council’s elected members, Dublin City Council and the Council meets on the first Monday of every month in the historic Council Chamber, originally the coffee-room of the Royal Exchange.

The sheer size and sumptuous fittings of City Hall reflect the prestige of Dublin in the late 18th century. The spectacular entrance hall or Rotunda with its spacious dome is surrounded by an ambulatory where the merchants strolled and discussed business. The Rotunda is now available for hire for corporate events, private functions and Civil Marriage/ Civil Partnership Ceremonies.

The superb vaults at lower ground floor level were also restored as part of the refurbishment of City Hall and they now host a multi media exhibition, “The Story of the Capital”. The exhibition traces Dublin’s evolution, from before the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170 to the present day through a mix of video and newsreel footage, display of a number of important artefacts, interactive software and interpretative text. Audio guides and leaflets are available in several different languages, the building is fully wheelchair accessible and a charming café on site adds to the ambiance.

Find OUT MORE www.dublincity.ie/dublincityhall/ • E. cityhall@dublincity.ie T. 222 2204 • Dublin City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2

Dublin City Hall An outstanding example of the Georgian architecture for which Dublin is world-renowned www.dublincity.ie/dublincityhall/

Read the latest digital edition of Education Magazine

Ireland’s leading education magazine

ARD EDUCATION LTD Email: education@clubi.ie Publishers of:

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Sage@School

Sage@School at Donabate Community College

D

onabate Community College opened in 2008 with a very modern approach to teaching a n d e d u c a t i o n . We s l e i g h O'Hagan, the Business and Accounting Teacher was interested in finding ways to turn theory into practice for transition year students. She heard about the Sage@School programme from the Business Studies Teachers’ Association and thought it was the perfect way to combine accountancy and technology. certified trainer To teach the programme, O'Hagan signed up to become a certified secondary school trainer. The three-step programme begins with accessing e-learning materials for online study before attending one day of face-to-face training. “Sage makes sure you achieve a solid level of competency to teach the programme, which is how it should be,” said O'Hagan.

Having passed the exam and registered the school, O'Hagan was provided with copies of Sage Instant Accounts along with manuals for each student. The course is typically taught over 12 weeks, culminating

in an online exam, but it’s flexible enough to allow the teacher to structure the timetable.

The real strength of the programme, according to O’Hagan, is that it gets students using the software in a practical way.

They learn all about ledgers and the termin o l o g y a s t h e y e m u l a t e re a l w o r l d experiences by running a simulated company. She particularly likes the way it gives students insights into wider business skills, showing them that accountancy is not just about crunching numbers. “It’s all about making it relevant and showing them that accountancy is about much more than spreadsheets.”

O’Hagan knew that the synergy between business and technology was the key to sparking their interest. It has clearly worked at Donabate with very tangible results, as the pupils can testify.

“I was able to use what I had learnt at Sage@School when I went on work experience at a chartered accountants in Donabate,” said 16-year old Gavin O'Reilly.

“They allowed me to use their Sage software and because of Sage@School I knew exactly what I was doing.”

Fellow transition year student, Tommy Oseni, said it had influenced his long-term plans. “I did find the idea of accountancy boring but having done the Sage@School programme I think it could be fun. It helped me make the decision to do accountancy at leaving cert.” learning skills “Accountancy is a tool for getting into any area of business and the Sage programme really helps,” she said. “All the students enjoy the practical skills more than the theory and at the same time they are learning skills that may one day help them to manage a business.”

Wesleigh O'Hagan is delighted, not just with the progress of her own students but for its contribution to her own Continuous Professional Development. She also praised Sage for the online test that completes the course. Students simply log in and take it online without any further involvement from the teacher or school resources.

Find OUT MORE Call Sage@School on 1890 924 280.

Or e-mail sageatschool@sage.com.

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Shielbaggan Outdoor Adventure Centre

Ideal for outdoor education

S

hielbaggan Outdoor Education Centre has been a provider of specialist outdoor education for schools for over 30 years. It is based in the South east and is run by Co Wexford VEC. The centre continues to develop, with the addition of a climbing tower and High Ropes Course in the last year.

These new activities supplement the other activities available, including Coasteering, Kayaking, Canoeing, Hillwalking, Rock-climbing, Orienteering, Archery, Snorkelling, Surfing, Teambuilding and Field-studies.

Shielbaggan prides itself on the creation of programmes tailored to fit individual school’s needs. Shielbaggan provides courses throughout Leinster, Muntster and further afield. Shielbaggan has a full range of mobile adventure activities to offer schools, including a mobile climbing wall, orienteering mapping (and training) service as well as kayaks, canoes & surf boards along with a mobile changing room, so they can bring the activities closer to you.

President’s Award is Ireland’s National Challenge Award, the country’s most prestigious and respected individual award programme, and a challenge from the President of Ireland, to young people between 15 and 25 years of age.

There are four different challenge areas.

To earn an award, participants will need to take part in each of the four challenge areas. Candidates might decide to build on an activity tried in the past. Each participant must participate in at least one new activity to earn an award. Check the Shielbaggan website for more details.

Primary Schools Programmes Shielbaggan is happy to accommodate Primary school groups throughout the school year except December to February.

All activities are available to primary schools; these activities can be adapted to meet the educational needs of the group.

April, May and June are the busiest time for primary schools, so if you are interested book early to avoid disappointment.

Secondary Schools Shielbaggan offer a wide range of programmes for secondary schools from transition year adventure and fun programmes or skills learning programmes (e.g. kayaking course on the river barrow) to elements of the adventure syllabus for the junior cycle and other educational base activities.

Gaisce Awards Shielbaggan also specialises in helping young people with the Gaisce Awards particularly the adventure journey. Gaisce - the Find OUT MORE Web: www.getoutthere.ie Tel: 051 389550 46 Education

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Westmoreland College

For Business and Management

W

estmoreland College is one of Dublin's most reputable third level educational institutions. Located in Temple Bar, only a 5-minute walk from O’Connell Bridge and close to all public transport routes, the College is easily accessible and is surrounded by bars, restaurants and cafes in the most vibrant part of the city. The central location provides students with the perfect opportunity to socialise with their colleagues to make their educational experience all the more rewarding.

Established in the ‘80’s, the College has prided itself on providing internationally recognised full-time and part-time qualifications to thousands of students. All the courses on offer at the college are fully accredited by long-standing awarding bodies. accessible and practical Westmoreland College’s primary objective is to provide accessible and practical educational training through a range of full-time and evening professional programmes.

Their courses aim to combine academic knowledge and workrelated skills and for this reason their programmes are suited to those taking their first tentative steps towards third level education, or as a post-graduate option for those seeking to acquire specific professional skills.

Through recent student feedback it was found that students rated the College Support Service as exceptional, with the student-centred environment also featuring prominently alongside the high standard of lectures and facilities. Westmoreland College commits itself to providing a support service that compliments and enhances the main objective of educational training. As such a college representative is always available to assist students with their needs.

On a Phantom FM radio interview with the Academic Director, Mr. Neilan Govender, he explains the importance of small to medium sized institutions in maintaining Dublin’s ‘educational integrity’. In a time of ever-increasing prices and economic downturn, they have endeavoured to freeze prices, offer easy-payment options and attractive discounts across the whole spectrum of part and full-time courses. popular courses Some of the popular courses currently on offer are the Diplomas in Business Studies, Tourism Studies, Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, and Health Services Management. The latter Diploma in Health Services Management offers educational management training to doctors, nurses, hospital administration, radiographers, physiotherapists and all other employees of health service sector. Coming soon, the college will launch a series of weekend courses and seminars tailored specifically to health services and management personnel.

For the months of August and September, Westmoreland College is offering all Education Magazine readers a 10% discount on any part or full-time programme. Please quote the reference: WMC/ EM/2012 to avail of the special discounted rate.

Find OUT MORE For more information, go to www.westmorelandcollege.ie or contact a representative on 01-6795324, Email: admissions@westmorelandcollege.ie.

Enrolling Now!

All courses commence September 2012 Internationally-recognised Diplomas in: Human Resource Management.... €1,200 !!!

Business Studies........................... €1,200 !!!

Travel & Tourism........................... €1,200 !!!

Accounting & Finance.................. €1,200 !!!

Health Service Management........ €1,200 !!!

And many more…

Course fees include tuition, textbooks, course materials and handouts, revision sessions, and examination preparation classes.

Speak to one of our Course Advisors Address: Dollard House, 2-5 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, D2 Tel: 01-679 5324 Email: admissions@westmorelandcollege.ie Education 47

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Cannon Vending

Vending supplier of choice

B

ased in Greystones, Co Wicklow and serving schools and colleges across Leinster, Munster and Connacht, Cannon Vending has been the specialised vending supplier of choice to schools and colleges in Ireland since 1999.

At Cannon Vending our focus is on providing alternative food and drinks options to schools. We also help students and teachers to attain Fairtrade school recognition. The company is dedicated to supporting Irish jobs by sourcing products manufactured in Ireland.

We can discuss all options regarding the contents of the machines we supply.

Cannon Vending www.cannonvending.com

Fairtrade • Organic • Gluten Free • Healthy • Brownies • • Flapjacks • • Cereal Bars • • Organic Rice Cakes • • Water • • Juice • Fairtrade products from sustainable Fairtrade producers •••••••• Sourced from Irish Manufacturers

3 Month Free Trial With a 3 Month Free Trial, your school or college can try out the service at no cost and with no obligation to continue after the three month period is up. Machines can be programmed to only work at breaks and are fully serviced and stocked according to the school's requirements. There is guaranteed product delivery or automatic refund.

The school or college will benefit by sharing in the revenue and commissions can be paid monthly, quarterly or annually.

Please call Gerry Cannon

on 087-2603583 or email

Find OUT MORE Web: www.cannonvending.com Please call Gerry Cannon on 087-2603583 or email info@cannonvending.com

info@cannonvending.com for your Free Trial or sample box of our products

Read the latest digital edition of Education Magazine

Ireland’s leading education magazine

ARD EDUCATION LTD Email: education@clubi.ie Publishers of:

READ THE PREVIOUS EDITION OF EDUCATION MAGAZINE

Education Magazine

READ THE CURRENT EDITION

www.educationmagazine.ie Education 49

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AirSpeed Telecom

Transforming education

K

eeping up to speed with the latest technological advances is vital for second level institutions. Schools need to be creating the digital citizens of the future – the writers, the inventors and the businesspeople. Transforming education in Ireland and placing children at the forefront of the digital revolution is paramount for the future of the Irish economy.

Jim Finn, ICT coordinator at Collinstown Park Community College in Clondalkin, Dublin says: “The students noticed the connection speed improved instantly. They all wanted to know what we had done to the computers, as they were so much faster. It has given us so many options which just were not available previously.”

second stage

faster internet bandwidth

In a bid to achieve this, Ireland’s national education and research network HEAnet has just announced its second stage of rollout to provide 202 post-primary schools in 14 counties with 100 Mbps broadband by the end of October 2012. One of the key providers of this service is AirSpeed Telecom who has been awarded the majority of schools and who will equip 90 schools nationwide in the rollout which is set to commence immediately.

This follows the first stage of the rollout, which took place in 2010, whereby 78 schools went live with this broadband scheme. The initiative introduced a host of benefits such as enhanced ICT facilities, including more than 1,500 wireless digital projectors and 2,000 laptops distributed to schools around the country. Some 47 of these schools receive their bandwidth via licensed wireless microwave. AirSpeed Telecom, for example, is providing 100Mbps broadband to 31 of those schools in a range of diverse geographical locations such as Aran Islands, Tory Island and schools in Cork, Clare, Galway, Kildare, Wexford, Wicklow, Donegal and Dublin.

Businesses and universities in the Western Gaeltacht region are also benefiting from faster internet bandwidth thanks to an infrastructure rollout by AirSpeed Telecom and HEAnet. The initiative has also resulted in impressive cost savings, efficiency gains and commercial opportunities for the institutions involved.

NUI Galway (NUIG) and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) are both using the new connectivity for a variety of uses, including the development of distance learning programmes and the introduction of video-conferencing as a way to replacing travelling for guest lecturers.

More recently, AirSpeed Telecom worked with IBAT College in Dublin to assist with their expansion to the new Temple Bar location by building a managed service network, which ensures continuity of quality and availability across all its voice and data services.

Find OUT MORE AirSpeed Telecom www.airspeed.ie 1890 799 899

new opportunities The new broadband service is creating new opportunities in education nationwide by facilitating learning and sparking imaginations. Each school now benefits from connection speeds similar to those used at large national and multinational companies, allowing for a quick uploading and downloading of material, instant connection to websites and increased use of online applications.

Máire Clár Nic Mhathúna, principal at Coláiste Phobail Cholmcille, which is located on Tory island off the Donegal coast, says the new connection has completely transformed the school: “Previously our connection depended a lot on the weather and the phone lines here, which are often not the best. Even when we had a connection, basic e-mail was all we could really manage. Now we have highspeed broadband access in every classroom.”

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Accounting Software

Introducing the big red cloud in online accounting

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ig red cloud have developed the cloud version of the very popular big red book accounts software. Within excess of 35,000 businesses using the on-premise version, big red cloud now provide an online version to both new and existing clients.

In business since 1993, big red book are in the unique position of having vast knowledge of accounting software built up over the years, while now providing this knowledge through the Cloud version. big red cloud offer an online accounting and bookkeeping solution, which is extremely easy to use, available 24/7, multi user, payable monthly (â‚Ź25 per month) and w i t h f re e a c c e s s f o r t h e e n d u s e r s Accountant.

big red cloud is always backed-up, virus free, no capital outlay required, hosted locally in Ireland on the Microsoft Azure Cloud Platform, data is fully secure and access for the Accountant is included free of charge. ideal for schools Mark O'Dwyer, Managing Director of Big Red Cloud says that the new service is a breakthrough for many managers who need to be able to access information when they are not at their desks.

"Big red cloud is ideal for schools, with remote access from any internet location, allowing Principals to view and work on the school accounts anytime anywhere," said Mark.

n Mark O'Dwyer Managing Director, Big Red Cloud

52 Education

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Transition Year

Christ Church Cathedral Transition Year Programme

S

tarting in autumn 2012, Christ Church Cathedral Dublin will be offering an exciting and innovative programme of tours, seminars and even work placements for Transition Year students. Activities have three different strands, corresponding to three different subject areas: 1. Transition Year Art History Programme (art, design, history of art, architecture): Students may choose from a range of four different worksheets, designed in collaboration with art teachers and cathedral experts: Gothic Architecture, Romanesque Architecture, Stained Glass and Gargoyles.

Students are then encouraged to make their own way around the cathedral, sketching areas which interest them, taking about one and a half hours. The worksheets also offer suggestions for further projects to be carried out in the classroom. Outstanding pieces inspired by the cathedral will be put on display in the cathedral crypt in June 2013.

2. Transition Year Belfry Tour (physics, mathematics): Explore the mathematics of change ringi n g a t C h r i s t C h u rc h C a t h e d r a l . I n collaboration with Gary McGuire, Associate Professor in UCD School of Mathematical Science, join Ringing-Master Leslie Taylor on an informative and entertaining (and energetic!) tour to Christ Church Cathedral

incorporating five elements: mathematics and the music of bells, science and the movement of bells, science and the sound of bells, science and the tuning of bells and science and the manufacture of bells.

This is a hands-on demonstration of the principles of metallurgy, gravity and sound transmission in action – with a bell-ringing lesson thrown in. Interested candidates may then apply for a place on our Belfry Tourguide Internship Scheme where they can learn to be a belfry tour guide, under the supervision of the Master-Ringer himself.

All wanabee Quasimodos welcome.

3. Transition Year Events Management Programme (mini-company, tourism awareness, work experience, presentation skills): Christ Church Cathedral has been around for almost 1000 years, surviving invasions, rebellions, disasters and even the Irish weather. However, in recent years it has diversified and is now a very popular venue hosting markets, receptions, dinners and concerts from artists as diverse as the Dubliners and the Irish Baroque Orchestra.

Working with the cathedral Education Officer, groups of students will be encouraged to invent and plan their own fantasy cathedral event. Students will be given a tour of cathedral facilities and will discuss some case studies of previous events. They will then be encouraged within their groups to devise and plan their own event as professionally as possible – type of event,

budget, marketing strategy etc.

Groups are then encouraged to reconvene at the cathedral after a suitable time period (one to two weeks) to present their event in a professional corporate environment. Students who wish may then submit their event with a CV and covering letter to be considered for a Christ Church Cathedral Events Management Work Placement, running in June/July/August 2013.

Detailesd teacher support documentation and student work sheets are available for all programmes - contact the Education Officer for further details Programmes cost €5 per participant and last approximately two hours.

Great value lunches can be arranged in the Crypt Café - contact the cathedral for pricing and menu options.

Find OUT MORE Lesley-Anne Carey, Education Officer, Christ Church Cathedral Christchurch Place, Dublin 8 Tel: 01 677 8099 Email: Lesley-anne@cccdub.ie Web: www.christchurchdublin.ie

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Vocations News

Twelve seminarians to begin priesthood studies at Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth, the National Seminary for Ireland, recently welcomed twelve seminarians who will commence their formation for the priesthood.

At the conclusion of the ‘Introductory Programme’ at the end of September, three of the new seminarians from Northern dioceses will continue their studies at Saint Malachy’s College in Belfast. formation journey Welcoming the new candidates for the priesthood, their families and friends to Maynooth, the President of the College, Monsignor Hugh Connolly, said: “As you begin your formation journey I wish you every blessing during this privileged time for discernment, for learning, for vocation, for praying, for listening and for being especially close to Our Lord in the word of Sacred Scripture, in the faith of the Church,

in your participation in the Liturgy and in your service of others.

“This has been a particularly memorable year for the Church in Ireland as we played host to the successful 50th International Eucharistic Congress which took place in June. opportunity for all "As the Universal Church prepares to celebrate a special ‘Year of Faith’, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council in October, may the year ahead be an opportunity for all of us to appreciate the gift of our faith, deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our commitment to sharing our faith with others.”

A breakdown, by diocese, of the twelve first year seminarians for 2012 is: Clogher (1), Cloyne (1), Down & Connor (2), Dublin (3), Ferns (1), Kerry (2), Meath (1), Raphoe

(1). At the end of September the total number of seminarians in Maynooth will be approximately 64. priesthood Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, has been forming men for the priesthood since 1795. The College comprises the seminary and the Pontifical University, which offers degrees in theology, philosophy and theology and arts.

The Trustees of the College are the Governing Body of the College. The membership is defined by successive Acts of Parliament. The current Trustees are the four Archbishops of Ireland together with 13 other senior bishops.

Over the last five years the number of new seminarians beginning their studies in Maynooth has been: 13 in 2011; 10 in 2010; 24 in 2009; 14 in 2008; 18 in 2007.

A fresh approach to school photography SIMON Archer Photography specialises in child photography and taking a new, fresh approach to school photo shoots.

Rather than the formal head shot with dated backdrop, Simon opts for the high-key setup and more casual poses.

Simon Archer Photography uses a mobile studio set-up when he visits any of the Dublin schools in his portfolio and takes a number of different poses for his communion and confirmation shoots - providing a full studio session experience rather than a sit - smile - shoot format. And there is no payment up front.

Simon prefers to take the junior class photo in the childrens own classroom, having the children around the teacher’s desk, for example, with their schoolwork in the background. This has proved very popular with parents, teachers and the children.

For older aged class groups Simon gives two options - one with the children in traditional line up and another, more contemporary shot, taken from a birds eye view.

The ‘Magazine’ style option is designed to look like a glossy magazine with child’s name and class included.

Simon also captions the class photo with all the children’s names - very helpful in years to come when memory begins to fade!

What’s more, 10 per cent of all sales goes back to the school.

For more details or to book Simon for your school photographs you can contact him on 087-2057247 or log onto www. sarcherphotography.com

Education 55

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29/08/2012 07:33:08

Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre

Taking outside the classroom learning seriously WWW BALLYHASSLAKES IE

4%,

4ROUT l SHING &LY AND BAIT "OAT OR "ANK &LY l SHING TUITION 2IVER l SHING FOR 3ALMON AND 4ROUT

The Survival skills module involves group participation in a woodland and outdoor location where the skills of map reading, safe procedures, Leave no Trace principals camp fires etc developed and group decision making explored.

Train the Trainer is a module delivered at Ballyhass or on School grounds and is a development tool using the medium of sports coaching to learn the skills of communication, leadership and motivation.

Many senior level students get the opportunity to be involved in the training and coaching of underage teams and this short #BMMZIBTT -BLFT IS WELL ESTABLISHED AS )RELAND S BEST KNOWN ALL YEAR 4ROUT l SHERIES 7E OFFER COMPLETE FACILITIES FOR A RANGE OF l SHING OPTIONS FROM BEGINNERS TO EXPERIENCED l SHERMEN

7E OFFER SPECIAL RATES FOR JUVENILES SO WHY NOT GIVE YOUR SON DAUGHTER

GRANDCHILD A NEW EXPERIENCE AND INTRODUCE THEM TO A FANTASTIC LOW COST HOBBY

4HE "ALLYHASS &ISHING #ENTRE IS OPEN DAYS A YEAR FROM AM TILL DUSK &ISHING PERMITS MAY BE PURCHASED ON ARRIVAL OR ONLINE AT WWW BALLYHASSLAKES IE .O STATE LICENSE FOR l SHING IS REQUIRED

!T "ALLYHASS ,AKES WE BELIEVE IN PROVIDING YOU WITH THE COMPLETE PACKAGE /UR ON SITE l SHING LODGE HAS AN EXTENSIVE TACKLE SHOP WITH A LARGE SELECTION OF m IES TACKLE AND BAIT !LL l SHING EQUIPMENT CAN BE HIRED AND LIFE JACKETS ARE SUPPLIED 3NACKS AND MINERALS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE LODGE AND ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE YOU REQUIRE IS AVAILABLE FROM OUR COMPETENT TEAM

Multi Activity

The Multi Activity core product can be for a day or residential visit. As all activities take place on site, any four activities can be accommodated on a single visit. A typical programme could include Kayaking, Abseiling, high ropes and Zip lining or any other combination from their list of over 20 activities.

/UR ACRES OF FT DEEP CRYSTAL CLEAR SPRING WATER LAKES PROVIDE THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR 2AINBOW TROUT TO FEED AND BREED NATURALLY 4HE MAIN LAKE IS RESERVED FOR m Y l SHING AND CAN BE l SHED FROM THE BANK OR FROM ONE OF OUR BOATS 4HE UPPER LAKE IS EQUIPPED WITH TERRACED l SHING STANDS COMPLETE WITH RAIN SHELTERS 4HIS LAKE RAIN SHELTERS 4HIS LAKE CAN BE l SHED USING WORM

SPINNERS OR m Y

B

allyhass Lakes Activity Centre Mallow takes outside the classroom learning seriously and has developed a number of programmes that are suitable for different levels and for Gaisce involvement.

The centre is on a 40 acre site, with spring water lakes, natural rock faces, a four acres playing field, indoor arena with climbing wall, 11 self- catering houses and camping facilities. In addition there are neighbouring Coilte forests and nearby mountain terrain at Mount Hillary and Ballyhoura. They have a number of new courses developed that are ideal for all levels and every interest.

programme gives them the skills and confidence to undertake the task.

Camping + Activities + Trekking is a combined programme that is tailored to the needs of a group. It can be for a number of days and can incorporate elements of all their programmes and activities. Special activities can be arranged that include the ever popular night kayaking and night hikes.

In the heart of Munster Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre Mallow is located in the heart of Munster. It is less than one hour from Cork, Limerick, Killarney, and less than three hours from Dublin. They have an established reputation for school tour programmes, corporate teambuilding and for their work with sporting teams. The range of facilities all on the one site give them a unique advantage to deliver intensive activity programme as there is now down time for travel between activities. They have a very experienced team of instructors who believe in the value of outside the class room education.

)N ADDITION WE PROVIDE 3KILLS #OURSES IN ALL OF THE ABOVE DISCIPLINES AND RUN WEEKLY AND OR DAILY SUMMER CAMPS WHICH INCLUDE ALL ACTIVITIES "ALLYHASS ,AKES !CTIVITY #ENTRE PROVIDES A )F )F YOU ARE TRAVELLING IN A RANGE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR GROUPS INCLUDING

GROUP OF OR MORE PEOPLE

3CHOOL TOURS &AMILY OUTINGS 3PORTS AND 9OUTH YOUR VISIT CAN BE TAILORED #LUBS AND #ORPORATE TEAM BUILDING 7E MAKE TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS THE BEST USE OF OUR FANTASTIC NATURAL RESOURCES #ONTACT US AT INFO BY USING OUR CRYSTAL CLEAR SPRING WATER LAKES Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre provides a rangeBALLYHASSLAKES IE of outdoor activities for OR LOG ONTO FOR KAYAKING RAFT BUILDING AND SNORKELING OUR groups including school tours, familyWWW BALLYHASSLAKES IE outings, sports and youth clubs and NATURAL LIMESTONE ROCK FACES FOR ROCK CLIMBING TO SEE HOW WE CAN OFFER AND ABSEILING AND OUR LANDSCAPED LAWNS FOR corporate team building.

YOU AN EXCELLENT DAY OUT ROPES COURSE AEROBALL TEAM CHALLENGES AND We make the best use of our fantastic natural resources by using our TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES 5NDER THE SUPERVISION OF OUR RESIDENT INSTRUCTORS YOU CAN BE GUARANTEED crystal clear spring water lakes for kayaking, raft-building and snorkeling, A GREAT DAY OUT WITH CHALLENGES APPROPRIATE FOR our natural limestone rock faces for rock climbing and abseiling, and our INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES

landscaped lawns for ropes course, aeroball, team challenges and team building exercises.

Under the supervision of our resident instructors you can be guaranteed a great day out with challenges appropriate for individuals of all ages. In addition, skills courses are provided in all the above disciplines.

4%, WWW BALLYHASSLAKES IE

www.ballyhasslakes.ie

(OLIDAY !CCOMMODATION !VAILABLE

3EE OVERLEAF FOR DETAILS OR OUR WEBSITE WWW BALLYHASSLAKES IE

Education 57

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Just Published.....................................................................................................................

Titanic, Icon of an Age: An Illustrated Chronicle from Design to Disaster

by Michael McCaughan

Titanic is the most famous ship in history and the extraordinary story of her construction and loss continues to capture the human imagination. Even before she sailed in 1912 Titanic was making headlines as the world's largest ship, symbolising the confidence and certainties of her era.

Built at Harland & Wolff's massive shipyard in Belfast, Titanic took four years, and the expertise of thousands of skilled men, to complete. This new edition of Michael McCaughan's acclaimed book, The Birth of the Titanic (1998), is a visual chronicle of that superhuman achievement set against the backdrop of an age of industry, entrepreneurship and political tensions.

Written and compiled by internationally recognised Titanic expert Michael McCaughan, it captures the spirit and vision of the people who built the vast leviathan and the stories of those who sailed on her, describing in detail the construction and launch of the ship as well as the disaster and its aftermath and giving fresh insights into why Titanic continues to fascinate and inspire.

Using stunning contemporary photographs from the official Harland & Wolff photographic archive as well as sources such as diaries, postcards, letters and White Star publicity this definitive book from Titanic's homeland is an exciting, moving and richly illustrated account of Titanic's remarkable story. A fitting tribute to this iconic lost ship.

Blackstaff • c €20

Atlas of the Great Irish Famine

Edited by John Crowley, William J. Smyth, Mike Murphy Geography Department, University College Cork This atlas begins by acknowledging the impossibility of adequately representing the Great Famine or any major world famine. Yet by exploring a number of themes from a reconstruction of pre-Famine Ireland onwards to an exploration of present-day modes of remembering; by the use of over 150 highly original computer generated parish maps of population decline, social transformation and other key themes between the census years 1841 and 1851: and through the use of poetry, contemporary paintings and accounts, illustrations and modern photography, what this atlas seeks to a achieve is a greater understanding of the event and its impact and legacy.

This atlas seeks to try and bear witness to the thousands and thousands of people who died and are buried in mass Famine pits or in fields and ditches, with little or nothing to remind us of their going. The centrality of the Famine workhouse as a place of destitution is also examined in depth. Likewise the atlas seeks to represent and understand the conditions and experiences of the many thousands who emigrated from Ireland in those desperate years. Included are case studies of famine emigrants in cities such as Liverpool, Glasgow, New York and Toronto.

The atlas also seeks to situate the Great Irish Famine in the context of a number of world famines. To achieve these goals and understandings, the atlas includes contributions from a wide range of scholars who are experts in their fields – from the arts, folklore, geography, history, archaeology, Irish and English languages and literatures.

Cork University Press • c €60

Degrees of Nonsense: The Demise of the Univeristy in Ireland Edited by Brendan Walsh Irish Universities are in crisis! They are dangerously underfunded and have become crippled by micro-management and preposterous metrics.

They have become effectively a boot-camp for the workplace and are promoted as being the only option for every Leaving certificate student.

In addition there is the unrealistic expectation that they should react immediately to every political or economic whim and the, increasingly invasive, financing and regulatory framework imposed by national and European government.

This book offers a long overdue and crucial discussion on the nature and purpose of education in Ireland. The contributions come from both Irish and UK based academics and argue that, increasingly, universities are being redefined and operated by interests outside the academy, leading to crass commercial understandings of what it is they do, but sadly ignorant of what is it they can do.

Increasingly encouraged to offer "courses" which the commercial market deems "useful" one day but not the next, the university is more and more at the mercy of commercial and political interests.

This book calls upon university managers and academics to re-consider their place in the so called global marketplace and stridently resist the new role being assigned to them by global government.

Glasnevin Publishing • c €20

Ireland’s County High Points: A Walking Guide

By Kieron Gribbon Whether a leisurely rambler or a serious hill walker, there’s a good chance you’ve visited or plan to visit at least one of Ireland’s County High Points. While this special set of Irish hills and mountains continues to attract more visitors each year, they’ve never had a walking guidebook exclusively devoted to them.

Ireland’s County High Points – A Walking Guide explains everything you need to know as a walker before setting out on your County High Point quests. Each countyfocused chapter contains a brief county profile and detailed walking route descriptions accompanied by easy-to-read maps. Also featured are various challenge options based on County High Points.

This definitive guide is based on detailed investigation and dispels any commonly-believed myths that may have previously lingered over certain County Top and County Peak locations.

Collins Press • c €14

58 Education

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