Going forward with

THE FIRST students to successfully complete a QQI Level 5 Award in Forestry Forwarder Operations were presented with their certificates at Avondale House, Co Wicklow last Friday.

Martin McManus from Ballyshannon, Co Donegal and Brendan Lynch from Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath were awarded their qualifications by Andrew Doyle, Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry.

Avondale House is a very appropriate location for the awarding ceremony as it was also the location of the first forestry technical training college in the country.

Martin McManus is a graduate of the level 5 Forestry certificate course in Ballyhaise 2017 and went on to complete his forwarder training through Ballyhaise College and with Teagasc-registered Mentor Tommy Lynch of Lynch Harvesting Co Leitrim. Martin now works full-time with Lynch Harvesting on private and state forests in the region.

Brendan Lynch is a forestry graduate from UCD and also completed his forwarder qualification through Ballyhaise College, securing a one-year, paid traineeship with Coillte Harvesting for the practical element.

Brendan is now making the transition to working with an established forestry harvesting contractor and is aiming for his QQI harvester certification. Coillte have recently recruited another harvesting trainee who is hopeful that he can emulate Brendan’s achievements.

As part of the assessment qualification requirements, both students completed simulator tasks, a theory exam, specific mentor days in relation to safety, environment, timber pro-

THE HARVEST SIMULATOR IS A TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR THE PROGRAMME