logo
Sligo electrician's return to the books at the age of 53 is one he doesn't regret

Sligo electrician's return to the books at the age of 53 is one he doesn't regret

Michael Walsh is now a Springboard+ graduate and is encouraging others to consider applying for a free or heavily subsidised higher education course through Springboard+ 2025, which is currently open for applications.
Springboard+ has made over 800 places available on 27 courses in the Donegal-Sligo-Leitrim region, through a combination of hybrid and fully online learning.
The courses cover areas including engineering, manufacturing and construction, health and welfare, and green economy.
Michael was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Electric Vehicle Technology from ATU Donegal.
He said: 'The education opportunities offered by Springboard+ are fabulous.
'I didn't have the interest or maturity when I was at school to apply myself to study, but aged 53, I completed my first course after hearing about Springboard+ through Sligo ATU.
'I really enjoyed the Bachelor of Science in Electric Vehicle Technology and I'm looking at completing another course this year in Construction Contracts Management, with a view to lecturing or teaching.
'To anyone thinking about a Springboard+ course, I'd say, take the opportunity with both hands and avail of every opportunity to learn.
'School just didn't suit me, but the course delivery for Springboard+ makes studying easy and provides lots of resources so people with other life and family commitments can access them.'
Nationwide, Springboard+ has made almost 8,000 free and subsidised places on 249 higher education courses available nationwide for participants wishing to upskill or reskill in areas such as digital and green skills and other areas where job opportunities are growing in Ireland.
All courses will commence between 1st July and 31st October 2025.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sligo electrician's return to the books at the age of 53 is one he doesn't regret
Sligo electrician's return to the books at the age of 53 is one he doesn't regret

Irish Independent

time04-07-2025

  • Irish Independent

Sligo electrician's return to the books at the age of 53 is one he doesn't regret

Michael Walsh is now a Springboard+ graduate and is encouraging others to consider applying for a free or heavily subsidised higher education course through Springboard+ 2025, which is currently open for applications. Springboard+ has made over 800 places available on 27 courses in the Donegal-Sligo-Leitrim region, through a combination of hybrid and fully online learning. The courses cover areas including engineering, manufacturing and construction, health and welfare, and green economy. Michael was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Electric Vehicle Technology from ATU Donegal. He said: 'The education opportunities offered by Springboard+ are fabulous. 'I didn't have the interest or maturity when I was at school to apply myself to study, but aged 53, I completed my first course after hearing about Springboard+ through Sligo ATU. 'I really enjoyed the Bachelor of Science in Electric Vehicle Technology and I'm looking at completing another course this year in Construction Contracts Management, with a view to lecturing or teaching. 'To anyone thinking about a Springboard+ course, I'd say, take the opportunity with both hands and avail of every opportunity to learn. 'School just didn't suit me, but the course delivery for Springboard+ makes studying easy and provides lots of resources so people with other life and family commitments can access them.' Nationwide, Springboard+ has made almost 8,000 free and subsidised places on 249 higher education courses available nationwide for participants wishing to upskill or reskill in areas such as digital and green skills and other areas where job opportunities are growing in Ireland. All courses will commence between 1st July and 31st October 2025.

How calf and cull cow value matter just as much as milk yield for this 120-cow Kerry dairy farmer
How calf and cull cow value matter just as much as milk yield for this 120-cow Kerry dairy farmer

Irish Independent

time27-06-2025

  • Irish Independent

How calf and cull cow value matter just as much as milk yield for this 120-cow Kerry dairy farmer

Michael Cooper has expanded his enterprise by buying three blocks of land, building new sheds and a parlour, and importing Fleckviehs – after discovering the breed on YouTube while waiting on a cow to calve Michael Cooper's approach to dairy farming goes beyond litres of milk in the tank. For him, breeding high-quality calves that command premium prices and securing strong cull cow prices are equally important. Farming full-time for nearly 30 years since taking over from his late father at the age of 18 Michael has expanded the enterprise from 90 British Friesian and Holstein cows on 75ac to 120 predominantly Fleckvieh cows on a 200ac grazing platform.

Cliff Asness: advisers should retire `very dumb' timing argument
Cliff Asness: advisers should retire `very dumb' timing argument

Irish Times

time24-06-2025

  • Irish Times

Cliff Asness: advisers should retire `very dumb' timing argument

With markets gyrating wildly in 2025, a familiar warning has made a comeback: don't try to time the markets, because data shows that if you miss the 10 best days, your portfolio is doomed. Billionaire money manager Cliff Asness isn't buying it, bluntly saying such thinking is 'very dumb'. Yes, missing the best days hurts, says Asness. But missing the worst days helps just as much. The effect is symmetrical. Yet, for some reason, only one side gets a chart. In a 1999 paper, Asness also ran the numbers on missing the best and worst months: from 1970 to 1996, miss the 12 best months and your annual return drops from 12.3 per cent to 7.2 per cent. Omit the 12 worst months instead? Your return jumps to 18.1 per cent. The pattern holds in later decades, on monthly and daily data. READ MORE Does this mean you should time the market? No. Asness is still firmly in the 'don't try this at home' camp, saying most people – including himself – 'suck' at it. Timing is hard, expensive and usually ends badly. His point is just that the standard scare-story – miss a few good days, lose everything – is unserious. If you're going to dissuade people from market timing, he suggests, try honesty. The truth is bad enough, rather than resorting to this 'terrible, silly, embarrassing argument'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store