An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has commended the work done by Áras Inis Gluaire in developing the centre as a new media training hub in Mayo.
The arts and civic centre opened in 2007 and houses Údarás na Gaeltachta, Mayo County Council, the SEAI, the courthouse, a 170 seat theatre, innovation centre, library, and art gallery, as well as community care services. The centre also facilitates the award winning Erris FM community radio and a FETAC level five multimedia production course.
“Community radio is a fantastic base for training. It is a great way of introducing people to the world of communications. Backed up by the certificate in Multimedia Production being offered here, Áras Inis Gluaire truly is becoming a media centre in the west of Ireland,” commented An Taoiseach.
Last year, Áras Inis Gluaire launched the FETAC 5 multimedia production course, the only course of its kind in Mayo, giving students the opportunity to study subjects such as graphic design and web design in a fully equipped media lab on the beautiful north Mayo coast. The first 14 graduates of the course receive their full major awards this November, and during their time on the course partook in work experience with local media and IT companies such as Erris Eye, Gillian Marsh TV, Pinlogic, Fergus Sweeney, Risteard O’Domhnaill, and nationally with Flirt FM and TV3. Many of that group have now gone on to study in third level education or have found employment, particularly in the IT and web sector.
“It is very important that people are going back to education and reskilling themselves. But it is also extremely important that they are being trained in relevant areas, where there is a shortage of skilled labour, such as IT and web development. It's heartening to know that after 26 consecutive months the numbers of unemployed have dropped and the numbers of employed have risen. We must continue this trend by offering training in relevant areas were job opportunities are real and credible,” stated An Taoiseach.
The popular multimedia production course will be run again this year at Áras Inis Gluaire from September 15 with a very limited number of places remaining for this year's course. Erris FM is currently broadcasting every Friday and Saturday on 90.8FM and online on www.errisfm.com
