The hard work, dedication and skills of a group of young men from Doneraile and surrounding areas shone like a beacon recently, as a number of participants in the Local Training Initiative programme were awarded certificates of completion by Minister Sean Sherlock. 

In a ceremony in Townhouse Interiors, Mike Hennessy congratulated all of the participants who did the furniture course, thanked his fellow tutor Don Colbert and welcomed Andrew Hourigan to the team as a new staff member. He went on to thank Myra Ryall for the use of Townhouse Interiors for the event and Ballyhoura Development for their continued support, as well as Minister Sherlock for coming along to the event.

Chairman of Ballyhoura Development, John Walsh congratulated all involved, saying that it is something that Ballyhoura are very pleased to be associated with, as the skills learned by the participants will be carried on into other areas of their lives.

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Minister Sherlock reiterated this point when he said that the skills they have obtained will carry forward and translate into other areas. He added that furniture restoration, design and manufacture is a niche area and is something that the participants can make a living from, if they so wish.

The Minister told those assembled that it is through courses like this that communities like Doneraile will survive and thrive into the future. "There is always a market for antique goods and things which are reupholstered, reshaped and upcycled, I believe we need to support them any way we can," he said. "I want to re-tool people who might have been working in other sectors and build a confidence in people".

"This is what is going to sustain a town like Doneraile, for too long we put all of our eggs in the construction basket, but there is something really wonderful going on here," the Minister added.

Willie Pat Hanlon congratulated those who took part in the course and told them that the skills they have gained will never go amiss and that they now have their foot on the ladder in a different industry. He also took the opportunity to encourage business people to come to Doneraile, citing Myra Ryall as a great example, as she had moved her business from Mallow to Doneraile, where it is now thriving.

Participants who received their certificates on the night were: Michael Killiney, John Lynch, Padraig Murphy, Michael Kelleher, Stephen O'Keeffe, Paul McDonnell, Alec Metcalfe, Sean O'Regan, John Joe O'Sullivan, Stefan Moulds, Dan Butler and missing was Edmond Cleary.

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