Introducing “Careers Connect” — bringing local people with exciting career journeys to the classroom.
Castlebar Rotary is excited to launch Careers Connect, a new programme that brings speakers from the worlds of Science, Business, Medicine, Law, Community Organisations, Entertainment and more into local secondary schools. The goal is simple: share lived experience — the choices, detours and light-bulb moments that shape a career — and spark ideas for what students might do next.
This new initiative is led by Rotarian Shane Bourke of Kennedys Café, with support from club members and partner schools. Kennedys is a multi-award winning cafe, owned by Shane and Sarah Bourke, with a recently opened new location in castlebar and also operates additional outlets in Dublin. https://kennedysfoodstore.com/
Pic: Leaving Cert Science Students and their teacher Ruth Phelan.
The inaugural Careers Connect talk
First stop: St. Gerald’s College
The inaugural Careers Connect talk took place on Wednesday, 8 October in St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar, where we welcomed Dr. John Fullard, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Genetics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York — and a proud Castlebar native and past pupil of St. Gerald’s.
John generously gave his time to share an honest, energising story: from NUIG to cutting-edge research in the genetics of brain diseases, and the lessons learned along the way — curiosity, teamwork, resilience, and saying “yes” when opportunities appear. His job is as exciting as it sounds, and his passion for science and people came through in every sentence.
Pic: Dr John Fullard (speaker) with St Geralds Students.
The magic was in the Q&A
John kept his talk tight (20 minutes), leaving space for conversation — and it worked. A planned 10-minute Q&A turned into 35 minutes of nonstop questions about university choices, research life in New York, switching paths, imposter syndrome, and how science can change lives. That discussion time proved what Careers Connect is all about: students driving the conversation.
What students told us
Quick feedback collected at the end shows:
- 90%+ rated the event “excellent” or “very good.”
- ~80% said the information was “extremely useful” or “very useful.”
- Students suggested future topics that will help shape the speaker roster for the rest of the year.
What’s next
Careers Connect will continue to visit schools across Castlebar and the surrounding area, featuring speakers from STEM, business & entrepreneurship, the arts, public service, health, law, media, trades, and more. Each session is designed around a short talk and a long Q&A, so students can ask what they really want to know.
Thank you, Dr. John Fullard
A special word of thanks to John for making time for Castlebar students and showing what’s possible when talent meets curiosity and hard work. His generosity set the tone for the programme: open, practical and inspiring.
Additional thanks to:
- Sharon Geraghty (Careers Co-ordinator, St. Gerald’s) for the warm welcome and introduction.
- Shane Bourke (Castlebar Rotary) for outlining Rotary’s community projects and the vision behind Careers Connect.
- Ruth Phelan and the Leaving Cert Science students for brilliant engagement and questions.
Pic LtoR: Dr John Fullard, Sharon Geraghty (Careers Co-ordinator, St Gerald’s), Shane Bourke (Castlebar Rotary).
Facebook Link | Photos of Event
PRESS MEDIA CONTACT:
Vivienne Kyne, Rotary Castlebar email: vivienne.kyne@sportlomo.com
