Munster group honoured for contribution to transport engineering
The Cork-based Ireland Munster Centre (IRM), a local branch of leading transport organisation IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers), has been named International Region of the Year by IRTE’s umbrella body the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) for its contribution to promoting road transport engineering in the Munster region.
Founded in 1982, the centre promotes lifelong learning for local engineers and encourages young technicians and apprentices involved in road transport across Munster.
With a base in the UK, SOE has international regions across Ireland, Hong Kong and South Africa; IRM was chosen from amongst these to hold the honoured title at a recent event [10 October 2013] at London’s exclusive Royal Automobile Club.
IRM was chosen for the award due to its calendar of specialist technical events for local engineers and its active encouragement of young engineers through its Motor Apprentice Education Awards, presented in co-operation with the Cork, Limerick and Waterford Institutes of Technology. The awards are presented in April each year at a ceremony in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel in Cork City and the scheme has been an outstanding success, with the ceremony attended by representatives from the motor industry, colleges, press and transport personnel from across the Munster Region.
The centre’s top award this year (2013) went to Motor Engineering apprentice Michael Sheehan from Mallow. Michael was nominated for the award by Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and is employed by Blackwater Motors in Fermoy, Co. Cork.
IRM Chair Donal Buckley says: “Transport engineers from the Munster Region attend our technical lectures on a regular basis, along with lecturers and students from the Cork, Limerick and Waterford Institutes of Technology. We have a dedicated and hard-working Centre Committee who source first-class technical lecturers from within the EU, providing various topics of interest for the motor and transport industries. As a result, our events are extremely important for networking and social and professional development for transport engineers employed within the motor transport industry. We are delighted and proud to be selected as International Region of the Year 2013 by IRTE’s umbrella body the Society of Operations Engineers.”
SOE Chief Exec Peter Walsh attended a recent event in the region, and personally thanked the centre’s committee for its commitment to excellence. He says: “The work done by the Munster Centre in encouraging and inspiring apprentices and young engineers has a far-reaching impact. At a time when there are fears for the continuation of technical skills and engineering, the Munster Centre is making a very real contribution to the future of engineering in their area.”
IRM hosts a series of specialist technical lectures from September to April each year in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork City on the third Thursday of each month. The lectures are open to anyone wishing to attend. If you’re involved in the motor industry or road transport and are interested in attending go to: www.soe.org.uk/soe-network
SOE Editorial & PR Coordinator
+44 (0)20 7630 2150
dee.mccurry@soe.org.uk
IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers)
IRTE has been recognised as an impartial voice of the road transport industry since 1944. A Professional Sector of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers), IRTE members come from a wide variety of road transport-related roles. IRTE publishes an industry-leading technical journal, Transport Engineer, www.transportengineer.org.uk, known for its incisive coverage of key issues, news analysis and informed comment. Recognising the need for those working in the industry to prove their competence, IRTE pioneered the irtec Licensing Scheme for technicians and mechanics and IRTE Workshop Accreditation for passenger carrying and commercial vehicle workshops.
Further details are available from the SOE website at www.soe.org.uk.
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