14th May 2008/14ú Bealtaine 2008

The RPL Skillnet Forum will be holding a Recognition of Prior Learning Conference 2008 in The Talbot Hotel, Carlow on Wednesday, 14th May 2008.

The South - East Micro Skillnet, SLM Skillnet and Carlow-Kilkenny Skillnet established the RPL Skillnet Forum in 2006. It's purpose is to assist companies to implement RPL (Recpgnition of Prior Learning) within their HR strategies, and also enable, train and support potential mentors.

Click here to download a full copy of the invitation.

2nd May 2008/2ú Bealtaine 2008

The Gaeltachtaí na Mumhan Skillnet Training Initiative was officially launched by Ceann Comhairle John O Donoghue, TD, at an event in the Dingle Skellig Hotel today as part of the 14th annual Féile na Bealtaine in the West Kerry area.

Sheol an Ceann Comhairle, John O Donoghue, TD, gréasán traenála Skillnet Ghaeltachtaí na Mumhan ag ócáid a reachtáladh in Óstán na Sceilige, Daingean Uí Chúis, inniu mar chuid d’Fhéile na Bealtaine i gCorca Dhuibhne.

Gaeltachtaí na Mumhan Skillnet Network was established in the Gaeltacht areas of Munster earlier this year and it aims to ensure the growth of existing businesses and to foster the development of new enterprise within the Munster Gaeltacht through the provision of specialised training expertise.

Cuireadh an gréasán Skillnet Gaeltachtaí na Mumhan ar bun níos luaithe i mbliana i gceantair Ghaeltachta na Mumhan chun cúnamh a thabhairt do chomhlachtaí Gaeltachta na Mumhan trí shár-oiliúint agus comhairle a chur ar fáil do lucht bainistíochta agus foireann oibre na gcomhlachtaí sin.

Pictured l-r: Eamonn Ó Neachtain, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Dónal Mac an tSíthigh, Network Manager, Antaine Ó Sé, MFG, John O' Donoghue, Ceann Comhairle,Tomás Mac Gearailt, CFCD, Alan Nuzum, CEO Skillnets, Gearoid O Brosnachain, CFCD, Michael O' Shea, Gaeltachtaí na Mumhan Skillnet, Breandán 'ac Gearailt, Údaras na Gaeltachta.  

30th April 2008/30ú Aibrean 2008

The Hospitality Management Skillnet, promoted by the Irish Hospitality Institute, a training initiative funded by Skillnets Ltd and member companies from the hospitality industry was officially launched by the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Mr. Sean Haughey, T.D. at Glandore Business Centre, Fitzwilliam Hall, Dublin this week.

Pictured left at the launch of the launch (l-r):  Tracey Donnery, Ewan Plenderleith (President of Irish Hospitality Institute), Minister for Lifelong Learning, Mr. Sean Haughey, T.D. and Natasha Kinsella (CEO of Irish Hospitality Institute). 

17th April 2008/17ú Aibrean 2008

Síol  (“seed”) a new scheme and joint venture involving funding partners Gréasán na Meán Skillnet, TG4, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta was launched by Conor Maguire, SC, Chairman of the BCI at the Celtic Media Festival on 17th April 2008.

Conor is pictured left along with Orla King (Gréasán na Meán) and Máire Ní Thuathaíl MD EO Teilifis.

The new scheme will entail the development, scripting and production of a new television drama series,  6 dramas, each  of 30 minutes duration,   under the generic title Clann  (Family). 

All Irish language writers can apply to participate in the scheme which is also open to television directors who wish to gain competence in Irish language drama.   The core training course/workshop for writers and director will be conducted entirely through Irish and will be delivered in An Spidéal in the Galway Gaeltacht by Gréasán na Meán Skillnets.

16th April 2008/16ú Aibrean 2008

Minister for State Mr. Billy Kelleher, pictured left, opened the Irish Coaching Skillnet Development Conference at the Hilton Hotel, Malahide Road, Dublin where a new funding initiative worth €450k of funding from Skillnets Ltd. was announced.

The Irish Coaching Skillnet is currently the onlyinitiative of its kind globally that is seeking to align standards of coaching amongst coaching practitioners and institutions.  Other countries, particularly in the EU, are looking to this initiative as a blueprint for driving standards in the rapidly expanding coaching profession.

9th April 2008/9ú Aibrean 2008

Renowned journalist & author Robert Fisk was the featured speaker at a Biznetcork Skillnets organised event on April 9th in Silversprings Moran Hotel last.  He spoke before a packed audience of more than 450 people about his experiences in the Middle East.  Fisk is the Beirut correspondent for the London Independent has spent the last 23 years working in the Middle East.  He has interviewed the region’s most well-known figures including Saddam Hussein, the Ayatollah Khomeini, Ariel Sharon, and Osama bin Laden.

8th April 2008/ 8ú Aibrean 2008

Minister Micheál Martin T.D. pictured at the launch of the Equestrian Skillnet.

4th April 2008/4ú Aibrean 2008

Pictured left at the official launch of the BMW Smallholder Skillnet first row(l-r): : Gerry Gallagher (Network Manager), Jon Regan, Mat Kujawa (Skillnet Ltd). Second row(l-r): Brain Smyth (Steering Group & Co. Leitrim Partnership), John Barrow (MED Partnership Group), Damien O'Reilly, RTE, pictured at the launch of the BMW Smallholder Skillnet held at the Bush Hotel, Carrick on Shannon.

13th March 2008/13ú Márta 2008

Staff and Steering Group members of BMW Executive Skillnet pictured with the Minister for Children Brendan Smith TD at the launch of the new Skillnet - (l-r) Jenny McKiernan, BMW Executive Skillnet, Jacinta Glover, Masonite, Caitriona Gately, MNBA,  Minister for Children Brendan Smith TD, Fiona Egan, Network Manager, Mary O’Connor, BMW Executive Skillnet Chairperson, Mat Kujawa (Skillnet Ltd),

7th March 2008/7ú Márta 2008

Design Week which is being hosted by the Donegal Design Directorate Accel Project, a Donegal County Enterprise Board initiative promoting the value of good design to small businesses in the County was officially launched by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D.  on Friday 7th March 2008 in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny.

Pictured left, Minister Coughlan shares a joke with designer Michael Parkinson while sitting on a sofa Parkinson designed using an old bath tub which had been used to feed cattle in a local field.

5th March 2008/5ú Márta 2008

Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland, promoters of the Craftbutcher Skillnet, has been honoured as one of the recipients of the prestigious awards made by the Irish Guild of Food Writers at a special function at L'Ecrivain restaurant recently. Cheif Executive Pat Brady paid a particular tribute to Skillnets and Accel which had a vital role in developing the new association's business development capacity .

Pictured Left to right, Minister for Food & Horticulture Trevor Sargent  TD and Mairin Ui Chomain, Chairperson of the Irish Guild of Food Writers make the presentation to ACBI Chief Executive Pat Brady at L'Ecrivain

4th March 2008/ 4ú Márta 2008

Pictured left to right at the launch of the International Trade Skillnet in the Radisson SAS, Dublin 8, Josephine Feehily, Revenue Commissioner; Paul Stack, Chair, International Trade Skillnet Steering Committee; and Mary Mooney, Network Manager.

28th February 2008/28ú Feabhra 2008

Pictured left to right at the lauch of the Training Providers Competency Skillnet aboard the Jeanie Johnston, Mr. Alan Nuzum, CEO, Skillnets Ltd, Mr. Sean Haughey TD Minister for Lifelong Learning; Ms. Nora Byrne, Network Manager;  Dr. Senan Cooke, Chairperson of the Trainers Network, the promoters of the project.

22nd February 2008/28ú Feabhra 2008

Pictured left - right at the ENVIRO Skillnet launch the Board of Directors; Roger Gillespie (White, Young, Green), Dr. Shirley Gallagher (Network Manager, ENVIRO Skillnet), Fr. Fidelma Butler (Chairperson of the Board and UCC), Mr. Michéal Martin, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Dr. Lesley Lewis (Limosa Environmental), Dr. Sharon Carr (Burren LIFE), Áine Ryan (RPS Consulting), Conor Kelleher (Aardwolf Wildlife Surveys).

22nd February 2008/28ú Feabhra 2008

2008 IITD Awards

The Construction Skillnet received the 2008 IITD sector award for its strategic approach to delivering the skills required in what is a very fluid and challenging sector. , and picture top (l-r) Terri Moloney, Laing O’Rourke Ireland, Lorraine Mannion, Network Manager and Tracey Latham, Network Assistant Construction Skillnet with their award.

The Design Ireland Skillnet received an outstanding achievement award for its achievements in increasing the levels of participants trained in member companies by 30%.Pictured middle (l-r) with their award is Barry Sheehan, Vice Chairman, Deirdre Doherty, Network Manager,Tracey Donnery, Programme Manager, Skillnet and Garrick Stark, Promoter, all Design Ireland Skillnet.

The Space Industry Skillnet also received an outstanding achievement award for its achievements in delivering international expertise at local level to its member companies and receiving recognition as the only space industry training network in Europe.

Pictured bottom (l-r), Danny Gleeson, Promoter of Space Industry Skillnet Catherine Lenehan, Network Manager, Space Industry Skillnet Sinead Heneghan , Director, Irish Institute of Training & Development  Tracey Donnery, Programme Support Manager 

22nd February 2008/22ú Feabhra 2008

Pictured left to right at the lauch of the FRS Skillnet in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, Co Tipperary; Tracey Donnery (Skillnets), Tim Maher
(Chairman of FRS Skillnet), Ruairi Deasy (IFA Skillnets Chairman) Siobhán
Dooley (Network Manager), Máire Hoctor (Minister of State), Peter Byrne (CEO
of FRS) and Rebecca Doyle (Network Administrator).

21st February 2008/21ú Feabhra 2008

Pictured left to right at the launch of The Events Industry Skillnet, Sarah Carroll (Chairperson of the Events Industry Skillnet Steering Group), Cllr. Ger Fahy (Mayor of Limerick), Gráinne O'Reilly (Network Manager, Events Industry Skillnet), and Cllr. Leo Walsh (Limerick County Council) in the Absolute Hotel, Limerick.

21st February 2008/21ú Feabhra 2008

Pictured left to right at the presentation of a FETAC Quality Assurance Agreements to Renewable Energy Skills Skillnet, Mr Stan McHugh, Chief Executive, FETAC; Minister for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey T.D.; Mr Dick Whelan, Project Manager Renewable Energy Skills Skillnet; Ms Anna Kelly, FETAC Council member (FAS nominee)

28th January 2008/28ú Eanair 2008

Pictured left to right at the Dublin North Skillnet Launch Monica Gleeson, Chair of the Board of Directors of Dublin North Skillnet, Minister Pat Carey, TD Dublin North West, Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Robert McCulloch, Dublin North Skillnet Manager.

January 2008/Eanair 2008

Pictured at the launch of the Southern Tipperary Skillnet at Hotel Millena, Clonmel, Front l to r: Louise Ryan (Curran Signs &

Roadmarkings, Clonmel), Tina Mulhearne (Vice President Clonmel Chamber), Anna Griffin (Clonmel Healthcare); back l to r: Tom Larkin (Merck Sharp & Dohme, Carrick on Suir), Michael Cox (Consultant), Ger Sammon (Stakleums Hardware, Thurles), Frank O'Donoghue (CEO Clonmel Chamber)