Over 900 Tipperary students took full advantage of having a world leader on their doorstep as they explored career possibilities at the Coolmore Careers Fair.
They gained an invaluable insight into what it was like to work in the bloodstock and equine industry at the event held at Fethard Town Park last Thursday.
Students were brought on a tour of Coolmore before they visited the vast array of stands at the Coolmore Careers Fair in Fethard Town Park.
A high level of engagement was the feature of the day as students dived into the world of the bloodstock industry, which has a national economic impact of 2.46billion, and a diverse range of career opportunities available within the Coolmore Group, spanning farming, sustainability, trades, tourism, hospitality, and business paths such as accounting, marketing, operations, and technology.
Among those in attendance was a 5th-year student at Fethard Patrician Secondary School, Emily Houlihan, who is interested in studying veterinary medicine.
“This day is a huge opportunity. I am in the right place today to help me map out the career journey I want to take, and it is great to be able to talk to so many experts today in the industry,” said Emily.
Another Fethard Patrician Secondary School student, Aerin Carroll, said she was interested in looking at a career in media and marketing.
“I was always interested in horses, as my Dad works with horses. This is my second year here, and I will be talking to the Coolmore staff working with the media and marketing,” said Aerin.
One of the Coolmore experts manning the stand was Fethard man David Sullivan, an equine dentist.
His stall proved to be one of the most popular among the students as David demonstrated how important the health of the teeth of the horse was throughout the day.
“The work we do is all about the welfare of the horse. As a dentist here, you have to ensure that the horse can eat food properly and that the teeth are not causing any discomfort to the horse. The teeth of a horse are constantly growing, and if that is not managed properly, it will stop the horse from eating. I do enjoy my job. I get great satisfaction out of resolving issues with eating for the horses or with steering,” said David.
Gerry Ahearne, Coolmore, who was bringing the students out to the Coolmore site from Fethard Park all day, said it was fantastic to see so many young people take such an interest in the industry.
“It is a great opportunity for the students. A lot of them are local and live within 20 miles of Coolmore, but they would never have seen it before. The students are amazed by the scale of it, and a huge number of them are very interested in the land management side of things,” he said.
Coolmore Manager Tom Lynch said seeing over 900 students genuinely engaging with the Coolmore staff at the stalls was very fulfilling, and it proved that there is a massive hunger for high-quality careers in rural areas where the cost of living and home ownership remain somewhat more affordable.
“While our prime business is obviously the bloodstock industry, which carries a national economic impact of €2.46 billion and supports over 30,000 jobs, the group provides employment in a host of other areas. We are looking for the next generation of horsemen and women who are the lifeblood of our farms, just as much as we are seeking agricultural scientists, tradespeople, accountants, and tech specialists.”
“It is great to see the students engage with the staff at the stands who want to showcase what they do for a living and speak about the employment they are in. The employees are young and were in the same boat as these students not too long ago, and the students can associate with that.
Tom Lynch had no doubt that a good number of the students in attendance would end up working in the industry.
“Coolmore, like all employers, wants to get the edge in the market on where to go to get the best people to do the best job they possibly can,” he said.
Taking an active interest in the farm management of Coolmore on the day was invited guest Éanna Ní Lamhna, environmental consultant and broadcaster. The broadcaster, who is married to Clonmel man John Harding, enjoyed taking a look at all of the stands and talking to Coolmore experts.
“Coolmore is a huge enterprise. Everything is for the good of the horses. Everything that is done on the land is with the health of the horses in mind. I am interested in the farm management side of things, how they maintain the fertility of the soil, and seeing what they are doing to support biodiversity. The land is rich in everything. It is the Golden Vale, the land is super duper, and I am very interested in the agronomy end of it all,” she said.
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