Plans to develop a further education and training campus in Thomastown and establish a major equestrian centre at Grennan College have been heralded as “transformative” by local Fine Gael TD, John Paul Phelan.
Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) has announced its intention to invest almost €1.3 million in the Centre in the town and replace 30 prefabricated buildings on the site.
KCETB is one of Ireland’s most progressive education and training boards and I warmly welcome its intention to develop a Further Education and Training College campus in Kilkenny, providing provision across Levels 1 – 6, including both full time and part time courses.
“Grennan Equestrian centre is owned by KCETB and the investment would see it transition into a Further Education and Training College. It already has both specialist facilities and space for horses and the equestrian programmes.
“Thomastown is already a hive of creativity with significant supports and training opportunities for those involved in craft and in food. Further enhancing its appeal and making significant investment in a major equestrian centre would have huge economic and social spin-offs for Thomastown itself and the surrounding hinterland. I will be supporting this investment all the way,” Deputy Phelan said.
Commenting on the Minister Simon Harris' announcement this morning, Director of Further Education and Training (FET) for KCETB Martha Bolger said:
“The entire staff at Grennan Equestrian Centre and at Ormonde College of Further Education, and throughout KCETB, are delighted with the news that Grennan Equestrian Centre will receive a significant capital investment to create a new teaching, learning and skills development space. This capital injection will transform the learning experience for the students who attend Grennan Equestrian Centre every year to study for careers in the equine industry. We are ambitious in our plans for Grennan Equestrian Centre and this funding will help towards enabling those ambitions”.
“Today’s announcement is also a great endorsement of the wonderful work being undertaken at Grennan Equestrian Centre and the dedication of our programme co-ordinator Ms Bridgette McCarthy, who is assisted by Ms Cindy Hutchinson, and by John Kavanagh, the deputy principal of Ormonde College of Further Education which operates Grennan Equestrian Centre”, added Martha Bolger.
