Students get insight into racing industry at Naas Racecourse

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) will host a free Careers and Racing Education Day for secondary school students at Naas Racecourse tomorrow.

The event is part of College Awareness Week and will show secondary students the many career opportunities available in the racing industry.

Students will have the opportunity to meet and speak with a jockey, a racehorse trainer, a farrier, representatives from RACE (Racing Academy & Centre of Education), try out a racehorse simulator, and meet with the Racecourse Manager.

The aim of the event is to give interested students a deeper understanding of what working in the industry entails from those that are working at the coal face.

Patrick Ryan, from the Careers and Racing Education Department at HRI said: ‘The horse racing industry in Ireland is a world leader and, as such, it offers a huge variety of career paths that appeal to many different levels and career aspirations. College Awareness Week is the perfect platform from which to encourage students to consider the horse racing industry as an option post-secondary school.’

The Irish School of Farriery will also have live demonstrations on the day, and will talk to students about their QQI accredited Advanced Certificate Craft of Farriery which has been developed in association with SOLAS. This four-year apprenticeship gives students first-hand experience of working with a Master Farrier and a QQI Level 6 award. During the Careers and Racing Day, the current crop of farrier apprentices will be on hand to demonstrate forging irons, horseshoeing and to answer questions from students.

Anne Channon, Manager of the Irish School of Farriery said: ‘We are delighted to be part of College Awareness Week to promote farriery as a career option. Qualified Irish farriers are widely sought after throughout the world with many of our apprentices travelling to gain international experience before returning to establish their own businesses here in Ireland.

"This year, we are encouraging young women, in particular, who have an interest in the equine industry to consider this SOLAS apprenticeship. If you have a flair for craftsmanship, a wish to travel and a desire to set up your own business, then farriery could be a perfect career path.’

College Awareness Week aims to inspire and inform all students about the importance of having a post-secondary education plan. It advocates for students to have the choice to pursue the course best suited to their interests, abilities and future plans, whether that is a PLC qualification, an apprenticeship or a university degree.

Since its inception in 2014, College Awareness Week has been a runaway success. Last year over 700 events took place across Ireland, and this year organisers plan on exceeding this number with events being held in schools, afterschool programmes, Colleges of Further and Higher education, training centres, libraries and businesses, among others. The campaign places particular emphasis on encouraging students of all ages, and social and economic backgrounds to consider their options and to become ‘college-ready’.

College Awareness Week is supported by the Higher Education Authority, the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, SOLAS – the Further Education and Training Authority, IBEC, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and the Trinity Access Programme. College Awareness Week is sponsored by its corporate sponsors AIB and Perrigo.

If you or your school would like to attend the Careers or Racing Education Day please contact Claire to preregister at [email protected].