This article is from page 15 of the 2012-05-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
IT promises to be an emotional few days for staff and students of St Joseph’s traveller training centre.
The final ever presentation of FETAC level certificates to students takes place at the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis on Friday.
The ceremony represents the end of an era for the centre that first opened in 1974.
The Ennis Traveller Training Centre was the first in the country. It started as part of a Combat Poverty Programme in 1974.
At that time, it was located in the grounds of the Holy Family School, Ennis. In 1982, the centre moved to a new building at the Gort Road industrial estate.
St Joseph’s, which is located in the Gort Road industrial estate, will close as a traveller-only training centre on June 29.
The building will become the first all-purpose skills unit in Ennis.
There are currently around 13 staff working at the centre. Staff will be transferred internally to other VEC schools and centres.
It will be run by Ennis Adult Education Centre, with classes offered in a number of areas including woodwork and hairdressing.
Over 60 people have been invited to Friday’s event, including former directors and board members.
According to Director Tríona Lynch, the ceremony will celebrate the history of the centre.
She said, “It is very emotional. You can see it around the place. The focus this week is on celebration and celebrating the past and looking ahead to the future.”
She added, “One of the traveller men said to me the other day that his parents attended the centre and so did his kids.
“It was part of their lives. The centre has provided nearly four decades of support for travellers.”
Ms Lynch also acknowledged the support of Clare VEC. The ceremony at the Auburn Lodge gets underway at 1pm.