At the launch of Go Gaelic, Ireland’s newest GAA coaching service, Shannon College international students took part in a fun and interactive hurling and football training session for beginners. Students had an opportunity to meet Anthony Daly, manager of Dublin’s senior hurling team, and get expert coaching from a host of Clare’s top GAA players. Check out the photos below and see if you can spot Davy Fitzgerald (manager of Clare senior hurling team) and Clare players Eoin Vaughen, John Conlon, Eoin Brennan (captain of Clare senior football team) and others!

A group of 38 of our final year students travelled to Belfast last week to visit the new Titanic museum. The trip was organised by Sean T. Ruane, Lecturer in Tourism, and it included a guided bus tour of Belfast City and a trip to the Giants Causeway.

Dark Tourism

So-called ‘Dark Tourism’ is a relatively new phenomenon in the industry and it involves tourist visiting sites of major disasters, battles and political unrest. The students had an opportunity to learn about the city’s history of strife and political unrest, which is now in the past.

Titanic Museum

The new Titanic museum has injected life back into the docklands area of Belafast and is expected to attract close to one million visitors in its first year.

Giants Causeway

The Giants Causeway is one of two UNESCO word heritage sites in Ireland. An interpretive centre is under construction and is due to open this summer.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Dr. Leo Varadkar T. D., visited Shannon College of Hotel Management last week during a visit to the Midwest. While here, Minister Varadkar had an opportunity to meet the staff and students and to take a tour of the college’s classes and facilities.

As Ireland’s only dedicated hotel management college, Shannon College’s graduates and students make an important contribution to Irish hospitality. During his visit, Minister Varadkar was introduced to the programmes offered and the college’s approach to hotel management education, in order to understand the college’s role in the wider tourism industry.

Finally, Mr. Smyth, Shannon College Director, presented Minister Varadkar with a copy of the college’s recently published book of research papers and a specially made college chef jacket to remind him of the professional education students receive at Shannon College of Hotel Management.

A group of French apprentice chefs arrived in Shannon this week to begin a seven day study trip exploring the culinary culture of the West of Ireland. The 12 visiting apprentice chefs from Centre de Formation d’Apprentis located in Bourges were immersed in West of Ireland culinary culture by visiting Irish food producers, cooking with Irish chefs and tasting local artisan food.

The first three days of the study tour were hosted by Shannon College of Hotel Management, where students from the two colleges studied together in language classes and culinary workshops.

“Hosting the Centre de Formation d’Apprentis study tour is a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the finest of Co. Clare’s regional cuisine and artisan products,” says Phillip J. Smyth, Director of Shannon College of Hotel Management. “The visit also provides students here in Shannon College with an opportunity to exchange ideas with the apprentice chefs and develop a better understanding of French gastronomic cuisine,” he added.  

The study trip is continuing to Galway this weekend, but not before the team of visiting apprentice chefs prepare and present a Gala Dinner at Shannon College of Hotel Management to representatives from local restaurants, businesses and college faculty.