Gaeilge
Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) has appointed Mr Colm Richardson to the post of Training Services Manager in its Further Education and Training (FET) Service.
He replaces retiring Area Training Manager Vinny McGroary, following forty-one years of service.
Originally from Gaoth Dobhair, Colm completed his electrical apprenticeship in the Gaoth Dobhair Training Centre before relocating to Letterkenny, where he has been based for over thirty years.
He also holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronic Engineering from Ulster University and previously worked across several multinational companies, gaining valuable industry experience.
Colm has over twenty years’ service as an experienced training professional, twelve of which were spent delivering apprenticeship training, and eight as Assistant Training Centre Manager, with operational responsibility across Donegal ETB’s Letterkenny and Gaoth Dobhair Training Centres.
Throughout his career, Colm has played a key role in the development and expansion of training provision in the region, working closely with industry stakeholders and education partners to ensure high quality training aligned to workforce needs.
Donegal ETB’s extensive Further Education and Training (FET) Service, known as Donegal College of Further Education and Training, catered for almost 17,000 students in 2025 across a network of eighteen FET Centres and numerous other venues across the county and its islands, providing education and training from Levels 1-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.
Speaking about his new appointment, Colm said, “I am delighted to take up this role and look forward to building on the strong work already underway in supporting staff, learners and industry across Donegal. I am particularly keen to work strategically to raise awareness of the strong Further Education and Training offering under the new Donegal College branding, while also recognising the dedication of our staff teams and continuing to represent and support their work to the best of my ability with a key focus on improving our facilities to ensure learners across the county have access to modern, well equipped, high quality training environments.”
Speaking about the appointment, Donegal ETB’s, Chief Executive Anne McHugh said: “I would like to congratulate Colm on his appointment. He brings a wide and varied breadth of experience and knowledge to this position and his contribution will ensure the continued delivery of a high-quality service across the county. I wish him every success as he takes up his new role and look forward to working closely with him.”
“I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our former Area Training Manager Vinny McGroary for his forty-one years of dedicated public service and wish him all the best with his retirement,” she added.
Donegal ETB is the largest education and training provider in the county and its islands with over 34,000 students, 1,500 staff, and an annual budget of over €130 million in 2025.
Colm takes up his position this month.