Busy Cavan farmer and manager takes on agriculture degree
CAVAN man, Paul Corrigan is the type of person for whom the saying “If you want something done ask a busy person” was coined.
The father of three, organic farmer, part-time DJ, and manager of a farm spread over two counties in the west of Ireland can now add graduate to his CV.
Used to hard work and putting in the hours, during lockdowns Paul took on to do a level 7 degree in Agriculture at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKiT).
His degree journey began first with a certificate in animal production through the Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Then with encouragement from his wife and a lecturer at DKiT, the 51 year old from Killeshandra decided to pursue a BSc in Agriculture.
Paul, struggled in school and left without his leaving cert before attending Mellowe’s Agricultural College
Paul not only enjoyed the degree course content but found many of the modules he studied useful in his daily work on his own organic sheep farm where he keeps 20 ewes and the large farm he manages in Sligo and Mayo.
The BSc in Agriculture gave him a new perspective on some of the most topical issues in farming, such as climate change and sustainable farming practices.
He now knows more about how ecosystems function and how small changes can have a significant impact on protecting the environment.
One of Paul’s most memorable learning experiences was creating a soil nutrient management plan, which allowed him to see how all the calculations come together to promote sustainable land use.
The course also helped Paul gain a greater appreciation for farm regulations, audits, and inspections, which are crucial for sustainable farming practices.
Work and study
Paul was joined on his degree course by about 18 other students from similar backgrounds in farming as him some of whom were doing the course for their own personal development and some who wanted to pursue different avenues in their farming career.
Now, as we head into a new academic year, Paul wants to encourage any farmers who are considering a return to education or who want to learn more about their field of expertise to seek out a course that suits them and get started.
However, at the same time, he does not want to give the impression that his journey was not without its challenges.
His course involved three hours of lectures on a Monday evening between 5:30 and 9pm and again on Wednesday evenings. Then, of course there are the assignments and exams.
“I couldn’t have done it if my boss had not allowed me to work from home on Mondays,” Paul Corrigan concedes. “I had to scale back some of my dj-ing at the weekends to meet deadlines at times.”
And, he says attaining a degree could not have happened for him had it not been for the support he received from his wife, Niamh ,and their three sons, Donal, Paudie and Fergal.
He cites the time spent most of a family barbecue one Sunday afternoon in his car revising for an exam the following day.
But he also explained that DKiT put on an additional class on Tuesdays to provide extra support to students who need it.
“If somebody is interested in agriculture or is working in it then I would encourage them to look into courses in it for their own personal knowledge and for the practical information such a course gives,” Paul told the Celt. “The opportunities are there and the support is there and I would highly recommend it.”