Alan Quinn
Place of learning: Back to Education Initiative (BTEI), Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
“I feel part of a wonderful educational system, and fulfilled as well.”
I’ve just completed a level 5 course on Black and White Traditional Photography. The course was for twenty weeks. I’m doing steps in photography to get my full certification. I’ve completed Digital Photography level 4, Narrative Photography Level 5, Image Processing and Editing Level 5. I’ve learned how to use editing tools like Lightroom, Photoshop or Photo Director.
My next steps will be in Photographic Techniques, which is all about lighting, cameras, the posing of models and the backgrounds, if you’re doing any advertising photography.
I love it. It’s such a great hobby. I always go around with my camera and there’s such great scenery around this area, along the river in Carrick-on-Suir, and in Cahir.
But I’ve actually found my niche in my genre, which is street photography. It captures the moment there and then, and that moment will never be captured again. That’s the way I look at it. It’s absolutely fantastic.
I take day trips back to Dublin, where I grew up. My Old Town was my project theme for the black and white photography course. I spent a lot of time photographing the old street vendors. There aren’t many of them left anymore. I remember some of them from when I was growing up.
I’ve been interested in photography since I was a kid. Any time there was a family function, I was always behind the camera. You’ll barely rarely see a shot of me in front of the camera when I was younger. My mum and dad would say that I’d got a good eye. I had an old Kodak 35-millimetre film camera, and would get them developed in Jackson’s chemist up the road from us. He had his own development studio in the back of the chemist and he would say, “Come on, I’ll show you how it’s done.” So that’s where the interest came from. It’s now becoming an obsession.
I didn’t have a great experience of education. I went to the De La Salle Christian Brothers and that was pure torture. I received more beatings than education as l was also referred to as a fool, a dunce and was always seated at the back of the class. I left school at the age of 13. I used to hate getting my school report. It always said that I could do better and was disruptive in class. All I was doing was asking questions.
The only thing I was good at in school at that stage was sports, and I loved hurling. When I was nine, we were playing in the National School final against Synge Street in Croke Park. I missed a shot and the beating I got that day, you wouldn’t give to any human being. It’s lived with me forever.
I only lasted one year in secondary school and decided I wanted to start working. I read an advert in the Evening Press that a tea boy was needed for a building contractors down the road with no experience needed. All it said was “good working conditions and must have a willingness to work hard”. I showed up and Mr Clarke came out. I addressed him as Sir and he said, “don’t call me, sir. It’s either Michael or Mr. Clarke”. The job was as a runner. I had to go and get the shopping for the lads for their lunch breaks, and to help out in the workshop. He put me on a trial week and I remember thinking “I’m going to like it here”. The workshop room was immense with massive industrial machines of all kinds.
Over the next while I got interested in woodwork and the machine shop. So, being the cheeky chappy I was, I went to Mr. Clarke and said “Michael, is there any chance of me getting an apprenticeship?” Because I hadn’t even got my Group Cert (Junior Cert), this was a barrier for me to be considered. But he told me that if I got my Group Cert, I’d be the first one on the floor. So that’s what I did. So, for nine months, as well as working, I did night classes to get my Group Cert. I did five subjects.
I remember being at home on the day that the postman came with a registered letter with my results. I got four B’s and one C. I needed to get a good mark in Woodwork and Mechanical Drawing for my apprenticeship and I did. So, the following week I went back to Mr Clarke. He brought me down to the workshop with all the machinists and joiners and says “lads, we have a new apprentice. He starts on Monday morning” That was the proudest moment of my life. It was fantastic. He pushed me, you know, but sometimes we all need that little push.
I had three years and nine months of my four-year apprenticeship done in 1980 when the building industry collapsed but Michael Clark stamped my cards for the last three months. I was then a qualified junior carpenter.
But as it turns out, I never got to turn my hand to woodwork for over 40 years. I worked my whole life, and learned a lot of life skills but things changed in 2015. Due to my health, I retired from work, and for my mental health I decided to go back into education.
The first course I signed up for with Tipperary ETB was Woodcraft in Kickham Barracks in Clonmel. I then signed up for English and Maths levels 2 and 3. That was my inroad into back into education and I felt nervous coming back but the experience has been very positive. My tutors are absolutely brilliant and so understanding and helpful. They are more like friends and very thoughtful if I have any issues with my learning. It was my Photography tutor who told me that I was a visual learner, which means that I would need to see the action and then I would be able to complete the task.
I really do like being involved with the ETB as a mature student. I like the fact that I’m not the only one who is a mature student. My experience in doing my courses has been wonderful and exciting, and I know that I have truly learnt something useful.
Before I re-entered the educational system again, I had some life skills that I used in my daily life and employment. Through the courses I completed I became more fulfilled and confident in myself again, and my mental health has improved.
Without a shadow of a doubt, I would recommend any of the courses that are run by Tipperary ETB. It’s an important decision to make to consider returning to education. I feel part of a wonderful educational system, and fulfilled as well.
Four years ago, while finishing a course there was a poster up in the classroom stating information about a Learner Voice Forum event with AONTAS and Tipperary ETB which was held in the Anner Hotel in Thurles. At the event they were recruiting for a Student Council as well. I volunteered for the social media role and the chairperson’s position and I’ve been chairperson of Tipperary Student Council ever since. I am also on the PPN (Public Participation Network) Transport Coordination Unit.
The Student Council was Nominated for a Star Award in 2024, which was a highlight in my mind’s eye. I was on the Learner Voice panel at the recent Enhance Learner Voice event in Dublin.
In future, I want to gain my full certification in photography, help others less fortunate than me, and become more active within the educational sector as the chairperson of the Tipperary ETB Student Council.
