Learning Local on KCLR

On this evening's programme, Una heads to O'Connor Music to chat to Ciara O'Connor about Ceol Cliste, a schools music programme. She meets Denis Carrigan, a teacher of Home Economics who was recently appointed as one of Ireland's first ever financial literacy ambassadors. And she speaks to Nicky Reed, Creative Director and Festival Co-ordinator of Bookville Kilkenny. 

On this week's programme, we speak with CEO of the KCETB, Dr. Lindsay Malone, from last week's Student of the Year Awards. We get advice on maintaining those healthy, new-school-year-eating-habits, and, we meet Casey Nolan, a tool-making apprentice, who is currently competing at World Skills Ireland. 

The new academic year has begun and Learning Local is back for season two. This week we head to the KCETB Student Of The Year awards, we learn about tertiary degrees, and family learning opportunities, that are available locally. 

In the final episode of this series of Learning Local we celebrate Jessie Buckley’s big Oscar win by going backstage at St. Kieran’s College and Loreto Kilkenny’s recent joint production of Across the Barricades. We get details of a free, online cyber-safety & digital health talk. First years offer advice to 6th class students who may be starting to feel a little anxious about their transition to secondary school. We get tips that may help us to be more mindful as we learn and we hear about a website that provides help with CAO choices and picking subjects for Leaving Cert . With thanks, as always, to Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board. 

On this week’s episode of Learning Local, teachers answer your questions ahead of the Leaving Cert foreign language orals, which are coming up at the end of March. We hear about Kilkenny Steiner School’s alternative and holistic approach to learning, arm you a few phrases that can be used as Seachtain na Gaeilge continues and we find out about upcoming Taster Days that are happening in Carlow College. With thanks to Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board. 

The Irish language takes centre stage on this week's episode, as we celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge, on Learning Local. We get tips from a muinteoir Gaeilge, ahead of the upcoming Irish orals. We hear student voice on Irish being a compulsory subject for Leaving Cert, and we get feedback from students who have chosen to study their degrees through Irish. MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú talks us through career opportunites in the European Union for those with Gaeilge, we meet three TY students who are lobbying for the introduction of an Irish oral for Junior Cycle. 

On tonight’s programme, we hear the story of Brian O’Donnell who, aged 45, reached out for support with reading and writing. He shares how life-changing taking that first step proved to be. We’re also joined by Deirdre Geoghegan Regional Literacy Coordinator with Kilkenny Carlow ETB who highlights the local supports available for adults who would like to strengthen their literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

And we meet students from two local schools, who are taking part in the exciting STEM Racing Ireland competition, a competition which challenges students to form a Formula One team, design, build and race a fast and efficient F1 style miniature car that’s powered by compressed air. Anna Duggan and Dearbhla Convery from Loreto Kilkenny are on a team called Fusion Force and Dylan Kearney and Harry Jenkinson from Presentation De La Salle Bagenalstown are on Burnout Motorsports. They fill us in on the competition, their projects, their fundraising and the rest. 

As always, Learning Local comes to us with the support of KCETB. You can get in touch with the show on [email protected]

On this week’s episode we're out and about with thanks, as always, to KCETB. First stop is Presentation Secondary School in Kilkenny who moved into a brand-new building in September last. Pupils and staff give us a sense of what’s involved in such a move, and share how they’ve settled in. Then we’re off to Mayfair Library to take a tour of their beautiful building and learn more about their many resources, and services, that support local learning.

We’ve reached the halfway point of Learning Local. In episode five, we meet Orla Reddy, Guidance Co-ordinator with the County Kilkenny Adult Guidance Service, who talks us through the career, education and guidance supports available locally.

We also hear from local student Grace Clune, who has been working on a social innovation project, exploring how well we recognise AI. She shares her research findings, along with practical tips for spotting AI-generated content.

David Forde, Principal of Carlow Institute of Further Education, gives an overview of the wide range of courses on offer, and shares details of their upcoming Open Day.

Supported by Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board; visit KCETB.ie

On episode four of Learning Local, we head back to Paulstown, to Grounded in Nature Forest School, to continue our exploration of outdoor learning.

And we turn our focus to the world of apprenticeships — the programmes that blend hands-on training with classroom study. KCETB held their annual Apprenticeship Expo in Carlow last Thursday at Carlow Institute of Further Education. Learning Local was there to meet the businesses, educators, and job seekers in attendance, and to explore the wonderful career possibilities available through apprenticeship programmes.

For more information on apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeship.ie or www.KCETB.ie.