A bumper attendance of over 500 students, parents and teachers attended the recent Claremorris Career Event 2017 in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris.

The event was organised by the South Mayo GAA board and the Mayo GAA Coaching Committee, with support from St Jarlath’s Credit Union, Tuam; Claremorris/Ballinrobe Credit Union; and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.

“We were absolutely blown away by the huge turn-out and the feedback on the day, and since then, and we are delighted to confirm that it will take place again in 2018. We have already pencilled in Saturday, January 20, as the date. The venue, the McWilliam Park, will be the same too,” said John Farragher, chairman, South Mayo GAA board.

Large numbers of students and families availed of the opportunity to explore career opportunities. The event was targeted at senior cycle and pre-senior cycle students and their families.

“We had a number of guest speakers on the day and they were all excellent – An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny; former Mayo manager, James Horan; General Manager of DeCare Dental, Maureen Walsh; well-known author and career coach Dearbhla Kelly; and career psychologist Isabel Alvarez Seron,” said Padraic Carolan, chairman, Mayo GAA Coaching committee.

The purpose of the event was to arm students and families with key information on the options available to them upon completing second-level education. Admission was free of charge.

Stands from leading CAO universities and colleges afforded students the opportunity to ask key questions about those institutions, entry requirements and employment possibilities. Non-college options were also presented.

The event was sponsored by the Tuam and Claremorris/Ballinrobe Credit Unions, and supported by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and South West Mayo Development Company.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2015-2017 is funded by the Irish Government and co-funded by the European Social Fund and includes a special allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative. For further information, please visit the Pobal Website www.pobal.ie. The support of the South West Mayo Development Company Ltd is also acknowledged.

The organising committee comprised John Farragher, Kieran Kilkenny, Liam Horan, Padraic Carolan, TJ Kelly and Michael King.