It will be ‘Destination Donegal’ for Ireland’s Guidance Counsellors this April as the county hosts the IGC National Conference 2019.
The conference was officially launched in Letterkenny IT last Thursday, with invited sponsors and guests enjoying a taste of what’s to come from the major gathering hosted by the Donegal branch of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.
A large number of delegates are expected to visit the ‘Coolest Place on the Planet’ for two days of workshops and a banquet on April 4th and 5th 2019.
Speaking at the conference launch on Valentine’s Day, Ms Eithne Sproule, Chairperson of the IGC Conference Organising Committee spoke warmly of the special relationship that the Donegal Branch have with LYIT before inviting Mr Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT, to address the audience.
Back L-R Justin McGree IGC, Liam Harkin, Fiona Kelly LYIT, Eilis Coakley, Gearoidin Brady, Sinead McCarron, Karen Crowe, Liz Shaw, Rory White, Billy Bennett LYIT FRONT L-R Beatrice Dooley IGC, Ms Deirdre McGlone Guest of Honour, Eithne Sproule Chairperson Donegal IGC, Paul Hannigan LYIT
Mr Hannigan complimented the Donegal branch on the chosen theme of ‘Valuing Uniqueness, Realising Potential’. He highlighted the vital service that Guidance Counsellors provide to our young people in schools, and explained how closely the approach mirrors that of LYIT who pride themselves in the manner they value their students.
Mr Hannigan finished by saying how excited LYIT are to host Guidance Counsellors from all over the country and can ensure that a ‘Big Donegal welcome awaits’.
IGC National Conference Launch
Further addresses came from IGC President, Ms Beatrice Dooley and Chief Executive of supporting sponsor Donegal ETB, Ms Anne McHugh. Cathaoirleach Seamus O’ Domhnaill, of supporting sponsors Donegal County Council, gave an engaging homage to the uniqueness of Donegal and Supporting Sponsors Maynooth University was represented by Mr John Mc Ginnity.
Hotelier Deirdre McGlone of Harvey’s Point
Conference 2019 was then officially launched by hotelier Ms Deirdre McGlone of Harvey’s Point Hotel. Ms McGlone regaled the audience with her ‘Love Story’ journey from her student days in Ballyshannon to becoming head of Harvey’s Point Hotel, which has been consistently voted as being the best hotel in Ireland for most of the past decade.
See more photos from the launch in the slideshow below: