Large turnout at Irish language Careers Fair In Strule Arts Centre

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council recently hosted an Irish language Careers’ Fair (Aonach Oibre) in Strule Arts Centre, Omagh as part of its programme of Irish language events for the annual two week Irish festival, Seachtain na Gaeilge. 

More than 200 students from five secondary schools across the district attended the Careers Day to learn about the opportunities that exist in the work place for people who have qualifications in Irish.  

Speakers at the event included the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Siobhán Currie, Annie Jowett a young post graduate student from Queen’s University, currently completing a work placement in Sacred Heart College and Fermanagh native,  Edel Ní Chorráin the assistant Chief Executive Officer of Foras na Gaeilge. The speakers outlined the increasing number of employment opportunities for Irish speakers and encouraged the students to make the most of them.   

Speaking at the event, Councillor Currie said; “ This is an excellent opportunity not only for the young people to learn about potential job opportunities through the medium of Irish language but also to realise that the growing demand for Irish language schools at all levels, and the increased awareness of the language is creating more opportunities where expertise in the Irish language can translate their love of the language into a strong and sustainable career where opportunities for promotion at work are plentiful.”

Representatives from over 12 Irish language organisations also spoke to the students about the services that they provide for Irish speakers and the role that they each play in their employment. 

Schools attending the event included the Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh, Sacred Heart College, Omagh, Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore, St Kevin’s College, Lisnaskea and Loreto Grammar School, Omagh.

Freastal Mhaith ar Aonach Oibre na hÓmaí

D’fhreastal breis agus 200 scoláire meánscoile ó chúig scoil éagsúla ar Aonach Oibre a bhí ar siúl in Ionad Ealaíne na Sruthaile, An Ómaigh Dé Máirt seo caite mar imeacht ar chlár de chuid Chomhairle Ceantair Fhear Manach agus na hÓmaí do Sheachtain na Gaeilge.  Chuala na scoláirí ó aoichainteoirí agus ó ionadaithe ó bhreis is dá eagraíocht déag faoi na deiseanna fostaíochta atá ar fáil do dhaoine a bhfuil cáilíocht acu sa Ghaeilge.

I measc na gcainteoirí bhí Cathaoirleach na Comhairle Siobhán Currie, bean atá an-ghníomhach i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge ina baile dúchais, Inis Ceithleann.  Labhair leas-príomhfheidmeannach Fhoras na Gaeilge, Edel Ní Churráín leis na scoláirí faoi na deiseanna fostaíocha in earnáil na Gaeilge agus labhair iarchéimí óg ó Ollscoil na Banríona, Annie Jowett, faoina taithí féin mar dhuine a chuaigh ar scoil i ndeisceart na hÉireann ach a bhfuil taithí oibre a dhéanamh aici faoi láthair i Scoil An Chroí Ro-Naofa ar an Ómaigh.

Ag labhairt ag an imeacht, dúirt an Comhairleoir Currie gur “deis iontach é seo ní amháin do dhaoine óga foghlaim faoi na féideireachtaí fostaíochta atá ann in earnáil na Gaeilge ach fosta tuigbheal bheith acu gur mór an buntaiste Gaeilge bheith ag duine ar bith atá ar lorg poist sa lá atá inniu ann, go háirithe i réimse an oideachais.”

Ba é scoláirí ó Scoil na mBráithre Críostaí, An Ómaigh; Coláiste A’ Chroí Ró-Naofa, An Ómaigh; Coláiste Dean Mhic Oirc, An Charraig Mhór; Coláiste Chaoimhín, Lios na Sceithe agus Scoil Loreto, An Ómaigh na scoileanna a rinne freastal ar an Aonach Oibre.