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Showing Their ‘Metal’ - Bunclody Students Display Tinsmithing Talents at Institute of Technology Carlow

02/03/2020 14:11:00

Bunclody Students Display Tinsmithing Talents at Institute of Technology CarlowInstitute of Technology Carlow played host to 14 students from Bunclody Vocational College last week.

The students were participants in an IT Carlow PATH funded tinsmith workshop that aims to increase participation, engagement and attendance for traveller students in schools, by offering culturally relevant material to complement the school curriculum. 

The workshop, which ran for 12 weeks from October 2019 to January 2020, also served to raise awareness of and celebrate traveller culture within the school community, with the students crafting and displaying their finished pieces through an exhibition attended by staff, students and parents.

The 14 students who participated in the programme displayed their finished pieces at Institute of Technology Carlow and received Certificates of Completion from Rosemary Flynn, Head of Student Services. They were accompanied by two representatives from Bunclody Vocational College, including National Traveller and Roma Integration Strategy (NTRIS) co-ordinator, Paul Cahill.

During the college visit, they also participated in a game of indoor soccer facilitated by IT Carlow’s sports staff and toured the Institute’s Centre for Aerospace Studies that features an impressive aircraft hangar and several aircraft. The boys had lunch in the college canteen before returning to Wexford in the afternoon.

Speaking after the visit, Aisling McHugh, Access Officer at Institute of Technology Carlow said, “As well raising awareness of their culture through the tinsmith workshops, and celebrating their achievements, the boys – who are all in Junior Cycle - got a flavour of third-level student life which we hope may incentivise them to stay at school and even consider third level education as an option”.