Athenry Hotel Training School (Part 1)

Unique Hotel School for Athenry

Source: The Connacht Tribune, March 7, 1959

The first residential hotel training centre of its kind in this country was opened by the Minister for Education, Mr. J. Lynch, in Athenry on Monday, in what was formerly the local Railway Hotel.

The school, in which there are twenty-seven trainee chefs and waiters from all over the country, is being operated by the County Galway Vocational Education Committee, who purchased the premises two years ago, and converted them at a cost of £25,000.

Prior to the opening, the premises were blessed by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Tuam, and Mass was celebrated in the building by Rev. L. Hennelly, C.C., Athenry.

Opening the school the Minister said: This is a school opening that is unique. This is the only school of its kind in Ireland-a school specially acquired, adapted and equipped for the training of boys in hotel work. Having regard to the growing importance of tourism to our economy and to the awareness by the people of this fact it is hardly necessary to say that this development in our field of education will be sincerely welcomed and appreciated. It is a development in the achievement of which there was a high degree of co-operation and goodwill between the Department of Education and the Co. Galway Vocational Education Committee on the one hand and Bord Failte on the other.

Vocational education committees have a vital role to play in our economic development. Provision is being made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce by way of grants and loans to hotels, one of the main purposes of which is to create more hotel accommodation for tourists.

The Galway Vocational Committee are doing a national service in having established this school which with such other projects as those in Cobh and Bundoran for the training of girls and the hotel management training courses in Dublin and Shannon will help to meet that demand.

Some time ago I was informed by Bord Failte that jobs were available for all the girls trained in the courses I have just referred to and that very few of them emigrate. I am confident that the same will apply to the boys that undergo training in this School. This school has naturally attracted the interest of hotel owners throughout the country and I am very glad to note that the Co. Kerry Hotel Owners’ Association have provided a scholarship for a boy at the school. I commend this foresight and generosity to other regional hotel owners’ associations.

Tribute To C.E.O.

The Minister paid tribute to all who were directly concerned with the project, particularly the Chief Executive Officer of Co. Galway Vocational Education
Committee, Mr. S. O’Doherty. and the chairman of the Committee, Venerable Archdeacon M. Brennan.

Most Rev. Dr. Walsh said: I congratulate the Committee on the good work they are doing. It is a work valuable in itself and valuable also because it contains a message of courage and confidence for the whole country.

I hope that our people will take that message of confidence to heart, and that all will unite with hope and earnestness to advance the interests of Ireland to show increased output both in agriculture and industry, and to let visitors see not only that we have a beautiful land, but that our outlook and achievements deserve careful study.

He paid tribute to the encouragement and interest shown in the project by the Minister, Mr. Lynch. Bord Failte has given valuable help in setting up this special training centre too, he said, and I convey our gratitude to Mr. O’Driscoll and those associated with him. Our gratitude goes out to the Co. Galway Vocational Committee and to Bord Failte who have joined forces to give us this training centre for which I have high hopes. I hope and pray today that this centre will be a big success that the young men who go forth from it will he a big influence in making Ireland more attractive for visitors, and that all Irishmen will work together in charity and harmony to bring the greatest prosperity to our dear country.

“Se mo dhochas agus mo ghuidhe go neireochaidh thar barr le Foras Oideachais Muire, go ndeanfaidh na fir oga a thiocfaidh amach as a lan chun Eire a dheanamh nios aoibhinne do chuirteoiri, agus go n-oibreochaidh muintir na h-Eireann le cheile i gcarthannacht chun ar dtir dhilis a chur fe rath agus fe mbaoin. Chun gloire De agus onoir na h-Eireann.

The Director General of Bord Failte. Mr. T. J. O’Driscoll, paid tribute to Mr. O’Doherty and the Vocational Committee and pointed out that it was hoped to have 40 boys in the school later; while the school was on vacation they would gain continental experience abroad and would be employed in approved Irish hotels, referring to the productive activity of tourism he said the need was being emphasised for specialised training.

Union’s Interest
The trade union involved had shown great interest and had given much help in organising the Catering Exhibition in Dublin and he was sure the same interest and help would be forthcoming for the Irish Food Festival Week the idea for which
had originated in Galway following the success of the Galway Oyster Festival.

At management and ownership level also the whole picture was one of increased enterprise and initiative. Due to the normal changes in a year 360 staff would be required each year for hotel work and the prospects of securing employment were great.

Mr. M. Carty, T.D., congratulated Bord Failte for their ready and realistic help for the project-the school would not exist but for the Bord. He also complimented the the Department of Education, hoteliers and trade union. They bad picked the boys carefully for training, the staff was the best and he hoped the boys on concluding the course would find lucrative employment in their own country. Referring to Mr. O’Doherty’s part in the project he said his work had been unbelievable and he also complimented Miss I. Cotter, the Bord Failte officials and Mr. K. Macken for the renovation work.

Venerable Archdeacon Brennan thanked His Grace for attending and for his interest in the project. So far the teachers were very pleased with the boys progress. As laid down by the Department a percentage of vacancies were retained for Gaeltacht boys. He complimented everybody associated with the development and paid tribute to the assistance given by Mrs. A. Duffy, former owner of the premises.

Luncheon was served by trainees and, speaking afterwards, Mr. T. F. McDermott, Assistant Co. Manager, stressed the importance of vocational education in our time, By fostering tourism they were fostering an improvement in the standard of living generally and it was most important that this be realised. Mr. K. Barry, Technical Manager, Bord Failte, said the educational role of the Bord was based primarily on participation, co-operation and collaboration. Mr. M. Flannagan, Chief Inspector, Technical Branch, Department of Education, having paid tribute to all concerned with the project, praised the menu prepared for the meal pointing out that it was in French and Irish which was a very good advertisement. It was something the Hotels’ Federation should consider. He congratulated the trainees on their splendid catering and service, after only five weeks training.

Mr. M. Kitt, T.D., joined in the tributes to Mr. O’Doherty’s boundless energy and the catering provided by the trainees.

Practical Support

Mr. J. Groome. Director, Bord Failte and of the I.T.A., recalled that Mr. J. J. Ruane of Galway Co. Council had been the first member of such a body in the past to recommend a contribution from the rates for tourism and he congratulated the Co. Council on their continued practical support of tourism. The opening of centres and schools such as this was a sign of progress and he associated himself with the tributes to the officials and members of the sponsoring Committee.

Mr. M. O’Carroll, vice-president Hotels’ Federation, congratulated the Kerry Branch of the Federation for their practical contribution to the centre.

Mr. M. Mullin, secretary, I.T.G.W.U. (Hotels and Restaurant Section) welcomed the development since tourism was a natural resource and it must be realised that it was highly developed and therefore ideas of training should be co-related. He would like to see hygiene and subjects allied to food values taught in primary schools. They welcomed the Food Festival because through it, it might be possible to revive the great
Irish national dishes so famous in the past.

Rev. G. Kearney. C.C .. Athenry, said that in Mr. S. Cullinane the school had the perfect type of Irish headmaster.

Professor L. O Buachalla. chairman of the Seanad, who presided associated himself with the tributes paid to all concerned with the project as did also Miss M. Bonfil. Chief
Inspector. Domestic Economy Branch, Department of Education. 

All speakers spoke in Irish and English.

The attendance included Mr. B. O’Regan, Comptroller, Shannon Airport; Councillor S. Glynn, Director, Bord Failte: Mr. P. J. Duffy: Mairin de Bhalera: Neans Bean Ui Dhochartaigh; Maire Bean Ui Bhuachalla: Mrs. B. Hogan, O’Higgins. T.D.; Councillor J. J. Ruane; Mr. J. Blum, Director, Shannon Airport Hotel School; Mr. H. J. Bennett, Bord Failte, Hotelier: Caoimhin O Malcin: Mr. B. Naughton, Hotel and Restaurant Managers’ Association; Mr. J. McElgunn, Assistant Comptroller Shannon Airport; Mr. K. P. Jennings, C.E.O., representing Clare Co. Vocational Education Committee: N. P. hAirtncada; Mr. Tomas Grianain, Cigire: C. P. Mac Eoinin; Mrs. Mac Giolla Laoire; Supt. J. Kelly. Miss Cotter: Mrs. P. J. Dully: Mr. Liam Ryan (Hotelier); Mr. B. Collins, Manager, G.S.R. Hotel, Galway; Mr. Jack Keogh, Warwick Hotel, Salthill, Rep, Western Branch H.P .; Senator R. Lahiffe; Micheal S. O h-Uiginn; An Ceann-Phort O’Ceallaigh; Michael Mac Gothraidh; Gearoid Mac Giolla Laoire; Mr. A. J. Staunton, P.C.; D.S. O’Murchadha, O.S .: Maire Nic Niocall: Tomas Mac an Riogh, Co.C; Cait Ni Shonchnasaigh; Mr. J. Glynn: Mr. C. Soden, U.D.C. P.C; Micheal O’Domhnaill, Co. C; Mr. Peter Sirr, Co. C.