GMIT students host first public Agri Showcase (29 March, 12 noon - 4.30pm)

GMIT's first public Agri Showcase will take place in the GMIT Galway campus this Wednesday, 29 March from 12pm to 4.30pm. The event has been organised by third year B.Bs. in Rural Enterprise & Agri Business and B.Sc. Agriculture & Environment Management degree students, and it’s open to the general public.



The keynote speaker for the event is Joe Healy, IFA President, who will deliver a talk on the challenges and opportunities facing young farmers. Other speakers include the following:



• Henry Walsh, Dairy Farmer

• Ronan Byrne, The Friendly Farmer

• Noel Kelly, Creva Agricultural Products

• Dr Mary Ryan, Teagasc’s Economic Advisor

• Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitor

• Martina Calvey, Achill Mountain Lamb (Marketing Manager)

• Catriona Cunnane, Writer and Founder of Women in Farming, West

• Kevin Moran, Dairy Farmer and FBD Young Farmer of the Year



The Agri Showcase will include a panel discussion, exhibitors from a number of agricultural organisations and a display of student projects. There will also be a farm safety officer taking part in the event, delivering a workshop on tractor safety.



Information will also be available on GMIT programmes on Agriculture & Environment Management, Rural Enterprise & Agri Business, and the brand new Bachelor of Engineering in Agricultural Engineering which commences Sept 2017.



Lorna Moynihan, event organiser and lecturer in Marketing at GMIT, says: “Our event is very timely in that it coincides with the triggering tomorrow (Wed 29 March) of article 50 by the British Government to begin formal negotiations on Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. Joe Healy, President of the IFA, will discuss the impact of this landmark ruling on Ireland’s farming communities. 



“The free talks take place from 2pm in Theatre 1000 on the main Galway campus. This event is about showcasing our long-running agriculture programmes which we offer at both level 7 and level 8 (honours).”



Third year Agri student Michelle Divilly from Monivea, Co Galway, says the wide variety of speakers come from all different farming backgrounds and enterprises. “They’ll be giving an insight into their farms and how the current issues in the farming sector affect them. This event is going to be very different and interesting.” she adds.



Chair of the student organising committee, Martin McNamara from Athenry, Co Galway, who is in third year of a B.Sc. in Agricultural & Environmental Management, says: “Our event is taking place on the eve of the RDS national Agri Carerers Fair (on Thursday), so this is an opportunity to showcase what we offer here in the GMIT in the west.”



For further information on this event, please contact: lorna.moynihan@gmit.ie and to see further details on GMIT’s agri programmes visit http://www.gmit.ie/courses/undergraduate-courses