Over seventy students land NLN course certs

Over seventy people who recently graduated from National Learning Network (NLN) training programmes in Mullingar and Athlone received their FETAC certificates on Monday last, at a special awards ceremony in the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar.Star of stage and screen, Delvin native Mary McEvoy was the guest of honour as the graduates of five NLN courses in Westmeath were applauded for their hard work and dedication over the course of their respective programmes.The ceremony was opened by NLN Area Manager for Westmeath, Sheila Buckley Byrne, who said that in 2009, demand for services for people with a disability, or out of work due to accident or illness, "continues to exceed supply".Ms. Buckley Byrne thanked the NLN staff, and all funders and stakeholders for their continued assistance in delivering the organisation's programmes.The programmes completed by the successful candidates includes "Fresh Start", which provides participants in Mullingar and Athlone with the opportunity for vocational/occupational exploration and personal development.The successful "Fresh Start" candidates in Mullingar were Una Devine, Mary Duggan, Melissa Evans, Robert Flynn, Graham Gallagher, Michael Ledwith, Monica Murphy, Martin Reilly, Yvonne Shanley, Sandra Sheridan, Fidelma Yourell, Mary Conway, Joanne Cummins.The Employer Based Training graduates in Mullingar were: Conor Ryan, Caroline Morgan Hanrahan, Dawn Clyne, Geraldine Kenny, Ross Sweeney, Ann Marie Stakem, Mary Gallagher and Daniel McDermott.Eleven graduated under the Turas programme in Mullingar: Anthony Bennett, Diane Byrne, Charles Girdlestone, Cathal Longworth, Thomas McGuinn, Patrick O'Driscoll, Mary Hevehan, Charlotte Coleman, Mary Jo Reilly, Kathleen Harte and Michael Nealon.A further ten received FETAC certs for the Transition Programme in Mullingar (Lorraine Donoghue, Orla Carpenter, Anna Krzyztoszek, Michael McAleer, Richard Carr, Enda Delaney, Ross Doyle, Elaine Enright, Áine Dunne and Cathal Longworth), while another seven graduated under the Access Programme in Athlone (Ciara Bartels, James Carr, Declan Doolin, Jamie Hamill, Gary Hand, Tony Lennon, James Quinn).The other Athlone graduates were: Rena Staunton, Annie Joyce, Margaret Scally, Bernie Evans, Nicola Costello, Paul Barrett, John Duignan, Olivia Lennon (all Fresh Start), Clodagh Moran, John Fagan, Mary Stephens, Theresa Stephens, John Tynon, Aimee Chatterton, Niamh Ruane, James Fallon Cathriona Coleman, Martin Slevin, Marie Macken, Kelly Costello (all EBT) and Keith Brennan (Turas).Maria Hussey spoke at last week's ceremony on behalf of the Health Service Executive, while Kevin Macken addressed the large audience on behalf of FÁS Community Services.Two successful NLN graduates, John McGovern and Diane Byrne, spoke of their experiences in the EBT and Turas programmes respectively.The guest of honour, Mary McEvoy, said that it was an honour for her to be invited to present certificates to the graduates."I'm struck by how passionate the National Learning Network staff are about their work," she said."There has been a lot of giving out in the media of late, but it's great to come to a place like this, where there is something of an ideal society."A society which has no compassion, vision, hope or courage is a society that's disabled, and as far as I can see, there is no disability in this room."WEBLINK: http://www.rehab.ie/nln