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Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Carl O'Brien: ‘Why many of today's apprentices are out-earning college graduates'
When Meghan Russell was in sixth year she recalls being encouraged by teachers and guidance counsellors to get a college degree at all costs. After duly completing a bachelor of science in environmental health at Technological University Dublin, she soon realised an office job wasn't for her. Two weeks ago she completed her four-year stint as an apprentice electrician with CJK engineering in Dublin. She loves the satisfaction of fitting out new buildings or problem-solving how to rewire older ones. READ MORE Meghan Russell has just graduated as an apprentice electrician. Photograph: Alan Betson An added bonus is that she is out-earning many of her college graduate friends, with a starting salary of about €52,000. With enough overtime, she says, it can rise to €60,000-€70,000. By contrast, latest figures indicate that average starting salaries for college graduates are about €34,000 for those completing undergraduate courses. Many school leavers like Meghan find their real strength lies in learning through doing. In a previous era, their opportunities were confined to apprenticeships in construction and the motor trade. Today's school leavers have a choice of some 77 apprenticeship programmes across every sector of the economy. They include new degree-level apprenticeships in areas such as ICT, financial services and insurance. They range in length from two to four-year programmes and are certified from levels five (certificate) to level 10 (PhD standard). Turnaround Latest figures show there were about 9,000 new registrations last year, the highest on record, an increase of more than 60 per cent over the past three years. These days, more school leavers realise that apprenticeships provide a chance to 'earn and learn'. Why haven't they been more popular? Some say it's snobbery. For many parents – and, by extension school leavers – there has been no cap and gown at the end of it. But it is more than that, I think. Apprenticeships, in the eyes of many well-meaning parents, seem to lack stability of employment. There's a perception that they are more at risk from the vagaries of the economy. That is changing with the advent of degree-level apprenticeships. For a growing number, they are jumping in advance of college graduates in similar fields with years of on-the-job experience under their belt by the time they finish. To find out more, visit Exams Believe it or not, it was day 12 of the State exams today. Thousands of Leaving Cert completed their design and communication graphics (CDG) exam in the morning, following by music in the afternoon. Music was a challenging paper with some familiar Irish musicians , while the general tone of the DCG exam was one of familiarity with topics that ' should be in everyone's arsenal' . Up tomorrow: Economics (9.30-12pm) and Physical Education (2-4.30pm)
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
From first steps to lasting digital footprints — why you should think twice before posting on social media
First Communions, pre-school and primary 'graduations', and holidays all present photographable moments. The opportunities are practically daily at this time of year, and parents everywhere will be reaching for their device to post online photos or videos of their children. 'Sharenting' is the term for parents sharing stories, images, and videos about their children's lives online. An amalgam of 'parent' and 'share', it is driven by a range of motivations, including a wish to collect and curate memories, to stay connected with family and friends, to get affirmation and support, or exchange advice about parenting challenges, as well as 'impression-management or presenting oneself as a good parent'. Parents typically share four types of photos: important milestones; with family and friends; funny ones; and cute ones. Or they post mainly 'pictures of happy moments', including of daily life, outings, special occasions, as well as joint social activities. Some parents divulge more serious and sensitive information about their children online, including health and educational issues. Sharenting is understandable, says psychotherapist Bethan O'Riordan. 'It's really natural: 'Look at me, look at my child'. You want people in your world to celebrate with you.' Counselling psychologist Niamh Delmar says social media reflects people's identities and lifestyles, and that sharenting has an emotional and social-status aspect. 'Parents want to include a wide range of family and friends in their children's celebrations and milestones. They want to keep others up to date and connected with their children's lives, especially if living far away.' But sharenting raises concerns about children's safety and privacy. Last year, France adopted the children's image-rights law to tackle risks associated with sharenting. This law reminded parents that 'children have the right to privacy and the right to their image, because photos and videos are personal data. A 2022 study from the University of Oslo, Technological University Dublin, and HansBredowInstitut (Germany) used data from the EU Kids Online survey, featuring children aged nine to 17 and parents. Psychotherapist Bethan O'Riordan: 'When we share online about our children, it's almost like putting your best foot forward: The best of their sporting achievements, the best of the best. The study found that more than half of parents shared photos or videos of their child, but the vast majority of them did so seldom. A little less than 20% are 'frequent sharers', blogging or posting photos or videos of their child monthly or more often — mostly they shared between one and 10 items in that period. The researchers found that 24% of parents aged 40 or under were frequent sharers, compared with 12% in older age groups. A paradoxical finding was that parents who worry a lot about their children's privacy are 26% more likely to share information about their children than parents who do not have these concerns. The researchers said: 'Overall, our findings suggest parents are aware of the risks involved in revealing personal information on the internet. However, either the benefits of sharenting outweigh the potential risks, or they feel they can manage these risks.' Best foot forward Sharenting brings up other issues, too. O'Riordan says that when they 'sharent', parents need to be careful about what they are teaching their children. 'When we share online about our children, it's almost like putting your best foot forward: The best of their sporting achievements, the best of the best. 'What does this teach children about failure, if we're always putting the best up there? It's a misaligned version of life. 'A lot of children who play sport will post on Snapchat, 'What I scored today'. Of course, it's OK to celebrate your wins, but not that you only get validation from what other people online are telling you. Because if we're always looking for external validation, we're really moving away from that quiet, inner sense of self.' Posting online snapshots of your child's life might be almost a reflex, but what message are you conveying about privacy and boundaries? 'If you're posting a picture of your child openly online and you don't know who all your followers are, you're putting your child out there. And, as humans, what do we do? We judge and comment on how people look, which is detrimental to children's wellbeing.' Psychotherapist Bethan O'Riordan: 'So often, children see parents behind a screen, filming, recording. This is not being present. A child could be doing something really lovely and we say, 'Oh, do that again, I'll take a picture'. O'Riordan recommends parents pause before posting and ask, 'Whose needs are being served by putting up an image or video?' 'There may be an emotional gain for the parent. We're quite vulnerable to worry and to comparing ourselves to others — social media has put a rocket under this. But there's the finest of lines, the most delicate of balances to be struck between your need and the need of your child. 'Ask what are you looking for in return [for this post] — is it that you want people to like you? Are you looking for praise, or are you putting it up to celebrate? Do you want people to say nice things, respond with a love-heart emoji or thumbs-up? Does this give you a confidence boost, and, if so, could you get that boost some other way?' O'Riordan points to the conflict between 'capturing the moment' and 'being present in the moment' and says parents being truly present is essential for children's healthy emotional development. 'So often, children see parents behind a screen, filming, recording. This is not being present. A child could be doing something really lovely and we say, 'Oh, do that again, I'll take a picture'. 'I've done it and I've thought, 'What am I doing? This is crazy.' And we're all very susceptible to it.' Delmar says a digital footprint is permanent. She also points to issues of consent and healthy boundaries. 'Images or videos could be embarrassing to children later on in life. Excessively taking photos can be intrusive and take away from enjoying the experience; there's too much pressure on children to smile and pose.' She urges putting down the phone more and just enjoying the shared experiences as they arise. 'With older children, get their informed consent, and be mindful of what you're sharing. 'Think about how they might feel about it in later years. Review privacy settings and lock down social media accounts.' Privacy tips The ISPCC has the following tips: Familiarise yourself with the privacy settings of each social media platform; Be selective about what you post. Ask yourself, 'Would this post or photo cause your child embarrassment later on?'; Be aware that photos you share online can be modified or shared. Be wary of sharing photos of your child in a bedroom or bathroom setting. Don't share photos of your child in any state of undress; Consider sending photos of your child to friends or family via email or another messaging service, such as WhatsApp; Give your child veto power over your posts, including images, quotes, and accomplishments. Talk to other family members about sharing photos of your child on their own profiles; Don't share your location, especially the location of your home or your child's school; Don't mention your child's name on any parenting website or any public forum, especially when seeking advice about behaviour; Don't use your child for any profile photos on social media platforms as these are public-facing — anyone can see them; Don't post pictures of other people's children without permission. O'Riordan says that sharing pictures online of your children 'can be a really nice thing to do', depending on how open or closed your audience is. 'I have 52 friends on Instagram, in my personal account, whom I know and trust. I don't have every mum at the school gate or who I've met in the gym, so I like sharing 'OMG, I'm in Paris with my daughter' with people I know. 'Parents love sharing pictures of heir children. Why not? All the hard work that goes in to parenting, of course, you want to celebrate this wonderful human being. 'But you need to do it in a really safe way for everybody.' Bethan O'Riordan's app, The Calm Parenting Community helps parents seeking answers about their children's behaviours, mental health, and emotions
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
A taste of home: the immigrant grocers bringing global snacks to Dublin
With its exterior the colours of the Brazilian flag, Real Brasil is instantly noticeable on Capel Street in Dublin . Inside, packets of pão de queijo and coxinha line freezers, and condiments such as dulce de leche and condensed milk occupy the shelves. Most products on the shelves are labelled in Portuguese, except for the pão de queijo in the freezers that have labels in English. On a Wednesday afternoon, the shop is busy with customers briskly moving about. Among the many snacks stocked here are packs of paçoca, a sweet treat made with ground peanuts and sugar. The consistency is praline-like, and the taste is as addictive as candy. 'I would say paçoca is quite popular; we import it from Brazil,' says Robson Oliveira, who has been managing the Real Brasil business for 16 years. 'Açai is also popular; we import that too'. 'Biscoito de polvilho [cassava starch crisps], paçoca [peanut candy], and Guaraná Antarctica [a Brazilian soft drink] are among the most recognisable and widely available packaged snacks in Brazilian grocery stores in Dublin,' says Euzana Forkan, a food enthusiast from Brazil with a master's degree in gastronomy and food studies from Technological University Dublin . Paçoca, Forkan says, is a very popular snack in Brazil, with indigenous origins – the earliest versions being a savoury dish made from dried meat and cassava flour. 'Today, paçoca is strongly associated with Festa Junina, a traditional Brazilian festival celebrated throughout June. While we now enjoy paçoca year-round, it still carries a nostalgic connection to this festival, which is one of the most beloved celebrations in Brazil.' READ MORE Oliveira says: 'Irish people buy our snacks too. Irish children like them because children like to try something different.' According to Forkan, Brazilian snacks in Ireland are significantly more expensive than in Brazil. 'Beyond currency differences, factors like importation costs, taxes and limited availability drive up prices,' she says. Some of the snacks, such as pão de queijo and coxinha, are produced in Ireland, with ingredients imported from Brazil, says Oliveira. Pão de queijo is traditional Brazilian cheese bread, made with cassava starch. Real Brasil sells frozen pão de queijo which can be bought and baked. Small balls of cheesy tapioca flour slowly rise and puff up in the oven, with the top turning golden brown. They feel light as air when bitten into. The packs that Real Brasil sell are produced in Ireland. 'My perception is that when Brazilians go to these stores, it's usually not for packaged snacks but rather to buy ingredients or frozen food. Or to buy freshly made Brazilian snacks like pão de queijo and coxinha, which hold a much stronger place in Brazilian food culture and can be found in pretty much all Brazilian shops,' says Forkan. Coxinha is a deep-fried chicken snack, with the chicken minced and encased in a dough. Both the outer casing and the chicken filling fall apart on the first bite, with steam rising from the centre when the coxinha is served hot. Oliveira says that while pão de queijo and coxinha are popular sellers, the shop ensures it always has them in stock. Robson Oliveira, manager of Real Brasil, with the products paçoca and açai. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw This is unlike Ingredients, the Indian grocery store in Stillorgan , where popular snacks are often sold out. Packets of Haldiram's, an Indian brand that produces savoury snacks like aloo lachha (spicy potato sticks) and aloo bhujia (a sort of potato vermicelli), often disappear from the shelves. Haldiram's is a household name in India, and their packaged snacks are popular accompaniments with tea. According to proprietor Melvin Moby, however, the two most popular snacks at Ingredients are Lay's crisps and Maggi noodles. Indian Lay's come in flavours such as Magic Masala (spicy) and Tomato Tango (ketchup flavour). Magic Masala is frequently sold out at Ingredients. Maggi is an instant noodle brand that's a favourite with both children and adults, often a popular student meal because of how quick it is to prepare. In India, smaller grocery stores called kirana shops sell packets of Lay's crisps and Maggi. Children often frequent these shops after school to buy their favourite crisps and noodles. Magic Masala is a particularly popular flavour for Lay's, a bright blue packet with spicy crisps inside. Street vendors who cook Maggi noodles often set up stalls outside schools and colleges, stirring the noodles in pots of boiling water until they're cooked. Stalls like these also often sell chai alongside Maggi. 'We can't seem to get enough of them,' says Moby when I ask him if Lay's and Maggi sell out often. This despite a huge difference in price between here and in India. 'By the time the duty and container charges are paid, the price would be five times more.' Ingredients is Moby's family business, also involving his father, Moby PB, and mother, Mini Moby. He took over 10 years ago, and his brother Ivin Moby and he are responsible for scaling it now, he says. 'I've always been around it so I had an interest in scaling it.' He grew up in Ireland and so enjoyed snacks such as Tayto, but wanted Lay's and Maggi when he went to India. 'There was a nostalgic factor for me, and I see Irish kids enjoying a mix of both Irish and imported snacks.' [ West African food is finally taking its place at Irish tables Opens in new window ] Besides packaged snacks, Ingredients also sells fresh vegetables and herbs. Bunches of bright green coriander and mint lie on shelves, next to refrigerated radishes and chillies. Yes Kabayan, a Filipino shop in Dublin city centre, doesn't stock fresh vegetables or herbs but brings packaged Filipino snacks to Dublin. Jars of peanut butter are stacked above jars of coconut gel in syrup. There's dried fish in the freezer and pinoy hopia (a kind of Filipino pastry) in a basket near the counter. Another Filipino shop, Pinoy Sari Sari on Mary Street, is bigger with more snacks on offer. The refrigerators stock aubergine, karela and okra, and the snacks section has pandesal (Filipino bread rolls), coconut gel in syrup and butter coconut biscuits. Goldilocks polvoron, a popular Filipino shortbread 'The most popular packaged snacks that are widely available outside of the Philippines are Boy Bawang, Ding Dong, Piattos, Chiz Curlz, Sweet Corn, polvoron (a type of shortbread, usually the Goldilocks brand), and dried mangoes (any brand),' says Krissel Alcaraz, a Dublin-based Filipino-Australian food content creator known as Porkyeah on Instagram. 'Food is such a huge part of Filipino culture; after greeting someone, we usually say 'kumain ka na ba?', which means 'have you eaten?',' she says. Boy Bawang Cornick, a packaged corn snack, is on the shelves at both Yes Kabayan and Pinoy Sari Sari. 'Boy Bawang is pretty popular – its literal translation from Tagalog (Filipino) is 'garlic boy'. Garlic is used in almost all of our savoury dishes,' says Alcaraz. 'I suppose Boy Bawang is the popular manufactured version of cornick or corn nuts, but I remember when I was a kid that people sold these in little plastic bags, packed full of salt and garlic. I saw vendors selling them on the streets, but it has now moved on to fancy-looking packaging.' Alcaraz says the snacks here are far costlier than in the Philippines. 'The exchange rate is currently around €1 to 65 Philippine pesos. Boy Bawang, for example, can be bought in a popular high-end supermarket in the Philippines, for around 70 cent and would be even cheaper in 'sari-sari' stores (small convenience stores), but in Ireland it costs around €2. This is why every time I have the chance to visit the Philippines, I stock up a lot on snacks.' Alcaraz was reared in Australia , but she loved Filipino snacks growing up there. 'It's also nostalgic to buy them now as an adult. I love checking out the Asian supermarkets here as it brings back memories of all the snacks I used to eat when I was still living in the Philippines as a kid.' Browsing the aisles or shelves of grocery stores can hold special importance for immigrants seeking familiarity and comfort from home. Food, especially when coupled with nostalgia, is a powerful emotional connector. Packaged snacks have their own place in this realm, whether it be the memories they conjure, or simply having a stock of the familiar in a new country. These snacks at Dublin's immigrant-owned grocery stores are markers of what it feels like to have a home away from home, bringing communities together over a shared love of snacking.
