We are extremely lucky in Carlow to have such a splendid facility such as the Institute of Technology, it sits just outside Carlow town and is host to almost 5,000 students. Among those are roughly 1,800 mature students who are an ever growing statistic in college numbers, I myself am one and it has been an eye-opener let me tell you.The college itself has grown dramatically over the past ten years and again a new extension is almost complete making it a more modern and pleasing college to study at. New courses are taking place every year and IT Carlow have the honour of being the only college in Ireland to offer GAA, rugby and soccer related scholarships  in conjunction with the FAI, the GAA and IRFU. The head of the college Ruairi Nevin is very much a man who looks to the future and his vision has brought these courses to IT Carlow. Additionaly a further 50+ acres has been acquired just down the way from the existing college and this will eventually be the second and much larger campus. For the town this is a major boost as the student numbers will at least double bringing with them massive spending power for local businnesses and landlords.

The future is very bright in IT Carlow and with this there is a sense of achievement for all who have taught, worked and campaigned throughout the years for funding and recognition, of course the students past and present are the lifeblood of any college and without them there would be no IT. Graduates have gone to every corner of the globe armed with their diplomas and degrees from this college and many have achieved great things in their fields of excellence, just this year two of our graduates from the gaming design course were headhunted and recruited by one of America’s leading game developers based in San Francisco. the only way is onward and upward for the IT and its student’s, we are here to stay and will continue to flourish against all the obstacles presented. Students may sometimes get bad press and maybe it is warranted but I can, hand on heart tell you that there is so much talent, optimism, passion and commitment evident in IT Carlow that if Ireland looks after its youth and the education system the country is in safe hands.