Call for link between Columb Barracks and new technological university

The president of the Mullingar Chamber John Geoghegan has suggested Columb Barracks could be used as an educational facility connected with the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest.

Speaking at a webinar hosted by Athlone Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning, Mr Geoghegan said the establishment of the TU is a welcome addition to the midlands and that he hoped to see Mullingar become a part of its future.

“We welcome the university and think it’s fantastic,” he said. “It brings the heat-map a little bit closer to Mullingar, and we’d like to see this an opportunity for the town and to work with all stakeholders of the university.

“One thing I’d like to see get looked into closely is the Columb Barracks regeneration. We have large, attractive land and also the barracks itself, where perhaps there could be an educational facility.”

He said that Columb Barracks is currently on the agenda with the Land Development Agency, which Mullingar Chamber sits on. “In terms of apprenticeships and further training, I think that is something that Mullingar could really contribute to.

“Covid has shown that you don’t need to be in the big cities, and that you can be in your own region for education and training. You can go to any one of the six campuses now, and longer-term if there are talks of expanding, perhaps a smaller one could be opened up here.

“Speaking for almost everybody in Mullingar, it really is a fantastic opportunity.”

Responding, president of Athlone Institute of Technology Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin said there is an agreement with the county council for a learning gate in Mullingar and that the idea is in the minds of those at AIT.

“With Covid last year, it got forgotten because learning went online,” he said. “That is there in our mind and in terms of the new TU, we will certainly be looking into it.

“Over the coming year when the university establishes itself and we get into engagement, we will be looking to expand the footprint of this new TU and we see Mullingar as one of those areas that we could look at, as we do Tullamore and indeed Roscommon.”

Prof Ó Catháin said that learning gates have worked “exceptionally well” for AIT in the past, whereby there is a physical space that can be used but most of learning and teaching is completed remotely.

“We are happy to have further discussions with the Mullingar Chamber, the county council and the minister.

“We see this as a regional university and our ambition and mission is to serve and develop the region, not just Athlone.”

Also present on the webinar Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, who said the new TU will address regional imbalance.

“This TU is unique in that it is going to border almost half of Ireland’s counties and is going to provide an unprecedented level of access to education,” he said.

“If we are serious about regional balance and making sure we end this farce of all roads leading to Dublin or other big cities, and about wanting people to live and stay in their communities with well-paid jobs, TUs are key.

“I believe what is about to happen in Athlone and the midlands and midwest region has the potential to be transformational in terms of access to education, and regional development, foreign direct investment and collaboration between the business community and the further and higher education sector in the regions.”

He urged the businesses and people of the region to take charge of the TU, stating that “there’s only a certain amount we can do from government buildings in Dublin”.

“We can invest in the university. We have already invested €65m in the TU agenda and we’ve established a transformation fund which is going to spend €90m between now and 2023, but the success of the TU will be down to the region.

“It will involve the region coming together to discuss how the TU can be used as a powerhouse for the benefit of people in Athlone, Mullingar, the Midlands and Midwest. I really believe that if you take this opportunity with both hands there is so much potential to keep people in your region and to attract investment.”

Minister Harris also highlighted the need for flexibility to access to education, and said a newly launched action plan to increase the number of apprenticeships on offer from 5,000 a year today to 10,000 by 2025 is important.

“Sometimes we’ve had a narrow and elitist view of higher education in Ireland and we’ve got to make sure that we provide as many different pathways for people as possible.

“When I say ‘apprenticeship’, nearly everybody starts to think of about the trades and crafts, but do people know that you can now get your PhD or Masters through an apprenticeship? I hope this new route will be another chance to bring education and industry together.”