Dublin Heroes Ray & Jack Inspire Students and Staff

RTE Newsreader & Special Olympian feature in national “ETB Heroes” campaign

Former Dublin Education & Training Board students, RTE’s Kennedy, and gold medal-winning Special Olympian Jack McFadden feature in a national campaign to highlight Ireland’s 16 Education & Training Boards which launched this week.

Ray and Jack when they at the recent ETB Excellence Awards in Croke Park and features Ray (left) and Jack (centre) pictured with Jack’s Mum Maria, Dad Paul and sister Alisha. Picture by photographer Marc O’Sullivan

In the “ETB Heroes” video released by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), we meet RTE newsreader Ray and third level student Jack as they revisit Colaiste Dhulaigh, Coolock (City of Dublin ETB) and Colaiste Pobal Setanta, Clonee (Dublin & Dunlaoghaire ETB) to talk with current students and staff.

“My ETB made me into a journalist” Ray says, “The job has brought me all around the world, but it all began here” he said, adding that by providing him with the accessible foundation his local ETB “changed my life”. Ray met with current media student and aspiring producer Laura Byrne in Colaiste Dhulaigh and offered her encouragement and advice on her media career journey.

Ray Kennedy & Learner Laura Byrne

Jack McFadden said “attending an ETB school – it’s able to open so many doors for me with my dyslexia and other difficulties.” Jack, who took home two gold and one bronze medal in swimming from the 2019 Special Olympics is currently a student in Trinity College Dublin. “Barriers aren’t a problem for Jack,” his former teacher Frances Shannon states, “he will always pursue his dreams.”

Jack McFadden and Teacher Frances Shannon DDLETB

The video also features current and past ETB students including Singer Songwriter Tolü Makay (Laois & Offaly ETB), TG4 presenter and producer Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill (Galway & Roscommon ETB) and Teacher Michael Farrell (Kilkenny & Carlow ETB) and seeks to highlight the lifelong learning provided by Education & Training Boards though their nationwide network of schools and colleges.