Claire Bambrick

Crops lecturer, Teagasc Kildalton:

“All along I wanted to do business in UL, I had booked accommodation there. The Easter before the Leaving Cert, I decided I didn’t want to be confined to an office in my career.

“I come from a farming background but never really considered agriculture as a career because I was in an all-girls school and there was no ag science modules available. The guidance counsellor in the school was a graduate of ag science in UCD and she recommended it to me. I changed it to my number one on the CAO.

“I got into WIT. The course involved going out to Kildalton for the ag modules and practical experience. After two years, I transferred up to UCD, you have to have good grades to do that and there’s an interview process as well.

“I spent three years in UCD. In third year I got to go to Kansas State University for a study-abroad semester, which gave me a global view on agriculture.

“My work experience was on dairy, beef, sheep and pig farms along with some industry experience in Macra na Feirme and Teagasc Oakpark doing crop research.

“Then I went back and did fourth year and applied for the master’s in agricultural innovation and support because I had it in my mind that I wanted to teach. The master’s was funded through the Walsh Fellowship.

“As part of that I was placed in Ballyhaise Agricultural College where I carried out research on disseminating knowledge from dairy research to farmers and students. I was also teaching students farm planning, dairy management and farm business modules.

“After two and half years there I got to transfer down to Kildalton which is closer to home and I took up the role of sheep teacher. I am now one of the tillage teachers in the college.

“Since graduating from UCD I have entered into a succession farm partnership with my parents on the home farm.

“Only for the fact that we had the guidance teacher in school that did agriculture, I might have ended up doing business. Looking back on it now I am delighted that agriculture is the route I took.

“If I was back again I’d still go through Kildalton and WIT, even though it took a year longer, because I was out on the farm and got the practical experience. UCD was good too because it afforded me the option to study abroad.

“My classmates have ended up in various jobs, a lot are in Teagasc either in education or advisory. There are some in the Department, some went into secondary teaching, some went on to study veterinary, some work in the private industry in companies like Glanbia, Dairygold and feed merchants. Agriculture is a very broad degree, you are not limited in where you go.

“I would say to students to explore all options, there are always progression routes. Fill out the CAO form in full. Look into some of the ag colleges because there is progression from them into agriculture programmes in the ITs. If don’t know what you want to do, take the opportunity to broaden your knowledge during the work experience elements of your chosen programme.”

Grace O’Reilly

Grace O'Reilly.

Agronomist, Waterford Distillery:

“From the get go I was interested in all things farming. Coming from a long line of farming blood in counties Meath and Cavan, I grew up on a suckler and sheep farm in Kingscourt, Co Meath.

“I spent my evenings after primary school following dad around the farm to coming home from boarding school and university at the weekends where I was always found in the yard. It was inevitable that a career in agriculture was in my future.

“Thankfully ag science was a subject choice for the Leaving Cert curriculum in Dundalk Grammar School. With the help of great teachers on all the other core subjects it enabled me to get the points required for UCD.

“When I look at my ag science friends, I see how diverse each individual’s career has become so far. Whether they decided to manage the family farm or to work in an agribusiness, the opportunities are endless. I started of as an agronomist with Boortmalt in Co Laois to then being a business manager with Glanbia in Co Cork and to now being an agronomist with Waterford Distillery.

“With a degree in agriculture you have a very diverse education that will not only ensure you get a job in Ireland, but it’s a degree that will travel if you want to in the future. Like any other degree, it’s important to have a good work ethic and to be able to self educate along your career is crucial.

“Once you decide on choosing ag science, it’s important to then focus on what you would like to major on. After first year I decided to study animal and crop science which opened many doors for me when I began my job search after graduation. Women have always been a huge part of agriculture in Ireland and I feel there is no limitations for women or men in the industry once your willing to learn and put in the graft.

“My advice to Leaving Cert students would be to look back at your work experience and recall what you enjoyed. If you excelled at any part of that experience base you decisions from there. Listen to your career guidance teacher and become more in tune to your own strengths. It’s important to pick a degree that you have a firm interest in.”