Headford woman is new principal of Galway Technical Institute
Alison Ward, newly appointed deputy principal GTI, Cllr Padraig Conneely, chairperson GTI board of management, and Geraldine Gibbons, newly appointed principal GTI.
By Mary O’connor
A Headford woman is the new principal of Galway Technical Institute [GTI]. Geraldine Gibbons, a graduate of NUI Galway and the former deputy principal of the Fr Griffin Road institute, replaces Jim Brick who retired as principal after 38 years service to the VEC.
Ms Gibbons began her teaching career in the UK and joined the City of Galway VEC in 1991. She has worked in a variety of roles at GTI.
Alison Ward, the newly appointed deputy principal of GTI, is from Salthill. She attended Salerno secondary school and is a graduate of NUI Galway and UCC. She spent a number of years in industry and subsequently qualified as a guidance counsellor, joining Dunmore Community School in 1994 and GTI in 2005.
GTI is one of the largest colleges of further education in Ireland and caters for more than 1,300 students. It offers FETAC Level 5 and 6 courses in art and design, media, computing and engineering, hairdressing and beauty, applied health and social sciences, fashion, sport and recreation.
GTI’s school of music offers classes in a wide range of musical instruments while its part-time education and training programmes run throughout the year offering a broad range of courses and qualifications.
Applications will be accepted for fulltime courses for 2012/2013 from mid February. Details on all courses and programmes can be found at www.gti.ie