The annual Donegal IGC Careers and Wellbeing Exhibition showcased a world of opportunities to Donegal students at a vibrant event on Thursday.
Up to 1,500 pre-Leaving Certificate students visited Jackson’s Hotel Ballybofey to explore a major exhibition of future career and education options. The event, which was hosted by the Donegal branch of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, also saw the return of popular wellbeing stands which were debuted last year.
Almost every post-primary school in the county attended with their Guidance Counsellors to discover what education and career paths are available to them.
Donegal IGC Committee members: Chairperson Ms Eithne Sproule, Ms Mairead McGurran and Mr Rory White. (Missing from photo: Marie McCullagh)
Forty colleges and training schools and 11 wellbeing organisations were represented on the day.
Third level institutions such as our own LYIT, the National Universities of Ireland, Institutes of Technology and offerings from Northern Ireland and Britain ran alongside an impressive range of Apprenticeship, Traineeship and PLC options offered by a large team from Donegal ETB.
Donegal ETB exhibitors at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Fiona Kelly and Nicola Dunnion from LYIT at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Magh Ene College students with their guidance counsellor Sharon Brien (third from right) and Sligo IT representatives Sheena O’Neill, Thomas Smith, Deirdre Kelly and Ruth Walsh at theDonegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
The Gardaí, Defence Forces, Teagasc, National Learning Network, Board Iasc Mhara, FAI and Vocations Ireland were also present among many more to highlight the myriad of options open to young people in the next stage of their lives.
Students enjoyed engaging with demonstrations, collecting prospectuses and directly inquiring about their preferred courses with institutions.
Pte Michael Mullen, Cq Garry Friel and Sgt Kieran Crawford at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Welding with Donegal ETB
Eoghan Bán Gallagher with St Catherine’s VS pupils at the Donegal IGC Career and Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Physical and mental health were a main focus elsewhere at the wellbeing suites. Representatives from Pieta House, Samaritans, Donegal Youth Service, HSE, Foroige, Donegal Road Safety and many more held interactive exhibits to encourage young people to know what supports are available at an important time in their lives.
Donegal Road Safety Officer Brian O’Donnell running virtual reality demonstrations at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Katarzyna Kurzeja from Donegal Youth Service at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
The event was hailed as another success for Donegal IGC, who have been running a Careers Fair for almost 20 years for the students of the county.
2019 is a particularly special year for the Donegal IGC, who have the honour of hosting the Institute of Guidance Counsellors national conference this April 5-6th.
Ireland’s Guidance Counsellors will visit Donegal for two days of workshops, discussions and debates themed around ‘‘Valuing Uniqueness, Realising Potential’’.
St Columbas College students with Guidance Counsellor Ms McCullagh and Ms Eithne Sproule, Chairperson of the IGC Conference Organising Committee at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Speaking at the conclusion of the Careers and Wellbeing Exhibition, Ms Eithne Sproule, Chairperson of the IGC Conference Organising Committee said: “We in the Donegal Branch of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors are delighted every year to host this event which gives 5th year students from all over Donegal the opportunity to explore their future options.
“Today was attended by over 1500 students and judging by their engagement with the exhibitors and their energy, the future looks bright.”
Ms Sproule said the committee are looking forward to welcoming Guidance Counsellors from all over Ireland for the flagship event in the annual calendar, which will this year be hosted at Letterkenny IT.
Guest speakers include Minister for Education Joe McHugh and adaptive adventurer Nikki Bradley, while RTE Education Correspondent Emma O’Kelly will chair a debate about Future Skills and the New World of Work. Delegates will also attend a variety of workshops to support Continuous Professional Development.
Ms Sproule added: “It promises to be a great conference and we are very grateful to our main sponsor LYIT, supporting sponsor Donegal County council and other sponsors Donegal ETB and Maynooth University.”
See more photos from the annual Careers and Wellbeing Fair below:
Mulroy College pupils at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Dean McCoy from CAFRE College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Finn Valley College students with Ms Sumerville and Deputy Principal Ms Boland at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Sr Helen O Sullivan and Sr Martina Sheridan from Vocations Ireland at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
DCU Student Recruitment Officer Heather Rainey at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada students and their Guidance Counsellor Noreen Martin at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
North West Regional College at the Donegal IGC Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
Abi Preston and Rachel Tinney talking about PLC options at the Donegal Career & Wellbeing Exhibition 2019
