Construction training rig’s first visit to Donegal hailed as success

More than 150  construction workers and students used an industry training rig during its three-week stay in Buncrana last month.

The Mount Lucas LOETB Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) training rig was based in Buncrana, where 

103  Leaving Cert students from the five second-level schools in Inishowen who will be sitting construction exams in June used the facility. Seven of their teachers also availed of the innovative training experience. 

Rosaleen Grant, principal of Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana commended the training rig saying it gave students hands-on experience of the various skills, materials and processes required to help a building meet NZEB standards. 

“With two questions on the Leaving Cert Construction paper on NZEB, we feel that this opportunity to use the rig and go through the training for two days will really help our students in their Leaving Certificate,” she said. 

“As well as raising awareness on all things retrofit and renewable energy, it has also given our students ideas and information on really exciting and relevant courses to pursue at College and/or through the Apprenticeship Programmes.”

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Crana College principal Kevin Cooley said the rig was an excellent opportunity for senior students to get an insight into the construction industry.  

“Instructors identified the avenues within the industry that are open to young people where successful careers can be had,” he added. 

Crana College construction studies teacher JJ McDermott said the whole experience was excellent for the students.

“Our students particularly enjoyed the virtual reality element of the day, but the actual rig was very well kitted out with excellent models and examples of how the different construction methods actually look in reality,” he said. 

“This was a great opportunity for our students and hopefully it will be an annual visitor to Buncrana for our students.”

Likewise, Carndonagh Community School teacher James Doherty said the students enjoyed learning about the fabric of a building and the various different materials, insulation types and techniques that are out there.

“They also liked the hands-on activity of sealing around windows and typical extrusions such as

joists, wires etc to create an air-tight seal,” he added.

“We feel this training really brought to life what they have been learning in the classroom and the VAR experience was a great enhancement to this.”

Some 38 local construction workers also went through courses such as Retrofit, Fundamentals and Site Supervisor during the rig’s spell in Inishowen.

With Donegal ranking low on the national scale for A-rated homes, Mount Lucas NZEB trainers Cathal Bermingham and Terry Dermont were delighted to have the opportunity to pass on their expertise in near-zero energy building to Construction Workers. 

Shauna McClenaghan, joint CEO of Inishowen Development Partnership, whose team members facilitated the arrival of the training unit, said it was perfect timing noting that Inishowen will, in the coming months and years, see a massive increase in building and re-building of higher energy rating homes.

 “This was the perfect timing for the unit to come to Donegal for the first time and give the Construction Workers and Students hands-on experience. We were delighted to be able to facilitate the arrival of the rig and we plan to continue with -and build on – our good relationship with Mount Lucas – the National Construction Centre in 2024 and beyond.”

Ana McColgan the development officer in IDP who oversaw the initiative thanked Buncrana GAA for accommodating the rig at it’s base in the Scarvey and facilitating the use of the clubhouse for training throughout its stay in the Peninsula. She also thanked the local schools and school completion officers Gary Duffy and Anne Marie McIntyre for their help in organising the transport for students.