Over 900 Tipperary Students Attend Coolmore Careers Fair

Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, the Coolmore Careers Fair returned to Fethard Town Park on Thursday, April 23.

Hosted in association with Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School, the event highlights the diverse range of career opportunities available within the Coolmore Group, spanning bloodstock, farming, sustainability, trades, tourism and hospitality, as well as business paths such as accounting, marketing, operations and technology.

This year's event attracted over 900 students from 15 post-primary schools across Tipperary.

The day featured immersive demonstrations, from jockeys mentoring students on race-riding simulators to farriers and master tradespeople bringing hands-on skills into focus, while Coolmore staff across all departments were available to discuss the broad range of roles that drive the global business.

Students also had the chance to meet representatives from third-level and further education institutions – including University of Limerick, Kildalton Agricultural College, Gurteen College, CAFRE in Enniskillen and Tipperary ETB – who offered guidance to those considering future studies in fields related to Coolmore.

“It's not just about working with some of the most valuable and exciting bloodstock on the planet; it's about the future of our rural communities,” said Billy Walsh, principal of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School.

“It can be a real 'light bulb' moment for students when they realise they don't have to move to Dublin or London to have a high-flying career in marketing, accounting or science. There are opportunities on our doorstep that can help sustain our local schools, communities, businesses and sporting organisations. Today's Career Fair helps inform the next generation of these opportunities.”

That sentiment was echoed across the stalls, where students discovered that a career at Coolmore does not have to mean staying local. With major operations in the USA and Australia, the event highlighted how skills learned in Tipperary – from bloodstock and farm management roles to finance and marketing – can lead to international placements and global travel opportunities within the group.

Coolmore manager Tom Lynch added, “Last year's inaugural Careers Fair earned a huge amount of positive feedback from people within the bloodstock industry and beyond. Seeing over 900 students here today proves there is a massive hunger for high-quality careers in rural areas where cost of living and home ownership remain somewhat more affordable.

“While our prime business is obviously the bloodstock industry, which carries a national economic impact of €2.46 billion and supports over 30,000 jobs, the group provides employment in a host of other areas. We are looking for the next generation of horsemen and women who are the lifeblood of our farms, just as much as we are seeking agricultural scientists, tradespeople, accountants and tech specialists.”