Is Féidir Linn: Mayo's new trade school offering a golden ticket to Ireland's next generation

Irish Independent

4 days ago

The school is the brainchild of Donal Byrne, a local businessman and entrepreneur who is the managing director of BRB Homes in Swinford. Recognising both the growing shortage of tradespeople across Ireland and the limitations of the traditional education system, Donal wanted to offer young people aged 16-18 a chance to develop valuable trade skills, as well as a well-rounded education.
He believes the current education system is too 'one size fits all' and fails to meet the needs of many young people who do not thrive under the traditional academic pathway.
Donal explains how the idea for Is Féidir Linn came about: 'Many young adults we [at BRB] saw coming out of the Leaving Cert, we felt, had been in school a bit too long. They only choose trades because there were no other options, or maybe because their Leaving Cert didn't go too well.'
Currently, after completing their Junior Cert, students pursuing a trade would move through Transition Year, fourth year, and Leaving Cert before applying for an apprenticeship. Donal believes the current route is 'dated,' noting that many apprentices are learning parts of the trades that no longer exist.
'Take plumbing, for example, [apprentices are taught] copper and gun barrel fittings, whereas nowadays it's red pipe blue pipe push-in fittings. It's the same with carpentry, you don't need to know how to make a door, because they're made in a factory, you need to know how to hang a door, same with windows.'
In the first year, Is Féidir Linn will offer students a taste of eight different trades, including carpentry, mechanics, plant machinery and groundworks, plumbing, steel fabrication and welding, 3D modelling, business administration, and hospitality and catering. There is also an optional subject, heritage that will teach cooperage and thatching. In the second and third years, students will choose the trade they like the most and specialise in that.
'They will do the three years with us, and we then say - Yes, this person is good within their field, they're qualified. If they want to go further in Solas or college, we will encourage that. This is just a different option, and a gateway to get people to look at trades differently,' said Donal. The focus of the trade school is to create a cohort of capable young adults who are trained and ready to enter the workforce.
He explained what a standard week will look like for students: 'On Monday there will be a motivational speaker who will be an entrepreneur of some kind who didn't like school, maybe had it very difficult or was dyslexic, and has now become very successful in their field. They will then go out for three days to learn their trade and come back on Friday to report on how they got on during the week, then they will go next door to the culinary school to learn how to make a meal.'
Donal emphasises that Is Féidir Linn does not operate on a pass/fail system. Students can take the time they need to master skills without pressure. If a student struggles and needs another year or two to master their trade, that is no problem. The school understands that everyone learns at different speeds and will support them.
There are no exams, instead, there will be practicals where students can demonstrate, in a form of their choosing, what they have learnt. Reflecting Donal's commitment to education being more than just traditional exams.
The school aims to teach more than just trades. Donal says, 'Students will learn practical life skills like opening a bank account, applying for their theory test, and putting together CVs. These are the skills you don't learn in algebra or Shakespeare.'
They also aims to tackle wider social issues, including mental health and substance abuse. 'We will have life coaches coming in to speak to them, we will be talking about mental health, we want to create a little bit of change, and it will have a ripple effect,' said Donal. He introduced drug and alcohol testing in his company and will implement a strict policy at the school, reinforcing that substance abuse won't be tolerated.
'That's why this is so much more than a trade school,' he explained, 'It is a complicated world for young people at the moment, if we are able to keep them busy, educate them, and give them something to work towards, then they have goals, and they are listening to adults who are encouraging them.'
Is Féidir Linn is privately funded, with investments from Donal and other backers. Participating companies will pay apprentices on a weekly basis, and BRB Homes alone plans to take on three apprentices in the first year.
The initial cohort will consist of 12 students, with a small monthly fee of €166 to cover costs such as training and certifications. The school has received a strong response, with applications double the available places and a 70-30 gender split.
A wide range of local businesses are involved, including Knock Airport's aviation trade, Harrington Concrete, expert vintage vehicle mechanics, 3D printing and modelling specialists, senior ESB members, a mechanical lecturer from ATU, and local food entrepreneur Jimmy's Coffee.
Donal hopes Is Féidir Linn will be the first of many trade schools across Ireland. 'We're hoping there will be one of these schools in every county in ten years. We're hoping this is the way forward, it's a different option and a gateway to get people to look at trades differently.' The school aims to go back to basics and help nurture the young adults attending.
Donal summed up his motivation: 'This isn't about financial gain. We want to leave a legacy, build a workforce, and create real change. If this works, maybe the Government will recognise the value and invest in trade education nationwide.'
'This is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the golden ticket,' said Donal, 'You have Mayo's and some of Connacht's biggest companies sitting around the table giving them a golden opportunity.'