Over 900 students from secondary schools across Co Tipperary are taking their futures by the reins at the Coolmore Careers Fair.
They have been getting the inside track on what it is like to work in the bloodstock and equine industry.
The event features immersive demonstrations from jockeys mentoring students on race-riding simulators, to farriers and master tradespeople bringing hands-on skills into focus.
Coolmore Stud is a global leader in thoroughbred breeding and while its primary business is bloodstock, which carries a national economic impact of €2.46 billion, the group provides employment in a host of other areas.
Staff across all departments at Coolmore have been telling teenagers of the broad range of roles that drive the global business.
"It’s not just about working with some of the most valuable and exciting bloodstock on the planet; it’s about the future of our rural communities," said Billy Walsh, Principal of Fethard Patrician Presentation Secondary School.
"It can be a real 'lightbulb’ moment for students when they realise they don’t have to move to Dublin or London to have a high-flying career in marketing, accounting, or science.
"There are opportunities on our doorstep that can help sustain our local schools, communities, businesses and sporting organisations."
There are also opportunities to work in hospitality locally.
Cashel Palace Hotel General Manager Adriaan Bartels said tourism in the area has made giant strides over the past number of years.
"Having Tipperary named as one of the world’s top destinations to visit in 2026 by Lonely Planet is a massive milestone.
"This recognition for local hiking, history, and fine food highlights the incredible potential of this region and the growing opportunities it brings," he said.
With major operations in the US and Australia, the event highlights how skills learned in Tipperary - from bloodstock and farm management roles to finance and marketing - can lead to international placements and global travel opportunities within the group.
Students also met representatives from third-level and further education institutions - including University of Limerick, Kildalton Agricultural College, Gurteen College, CAFRE in Enniskillen, and Tipperary ETB – who offered guidance to those considering future studies in fields related to Coolmore.
Coolmore Manager Tom Lynch said last year’s inaugural careers fair earned a huge amount of positive feedback from people within the bloodstock industry and beyond.
"Seeing over 900 students here today proves there is a massive hunger for high-quality careers in rural areas where cost-of-living and home ownership remain somewhat more affordable," he said.
