On Monday, July 29th, 2024, following the success of the NCI X Shopify Pop-Up Event that took place in Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre back in May, NCI upcoming graduate Matthew Foy Daly from this year’s Marketing Practice course had the fantastic opportunity to speak to Myra Gleeson live on Near FM alongside NCI alumni Ian Hunter, director of Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre. Matthew and Ian were supported by Kate O’Brien, PR & Events Executive at NCI.

Here at National College of Ireland, connecting with students during and after their time here is key. Many of our courses offer practical elements that place students in real-life settings, giving them the opportunity to gain work experience and see how what they are studying can actively link to their postgrad careers. Study is personal. Everyone has their own personal goals and visions for themselves when they begin their academic journey. Each student wants to do something different upon obtaining their degree so seeing those academic/industry links while in college is highly beneficial. You can begin to see where a qualification may take you or you may discover a career route in which you are interested. Having the opportunity to develop connections in various industries through hands-on, tangible experiences such as going to the Swords Pavillions Shopping Centre allows students to discover where they may thrive post-graduation. Having first hand experiences also allows students to see if a particular area is not for them and they may find that their goals change as their time in a course progresses.

Students studying on the BA (Honours) Marketing Practice course receive a lot of external support from NCI alumni. They have been able to connect with graduates who work for a broad range of companies like Nissan, LinkedIn, Ryanair, and many more. Matthew Foy Daly took part in the Pavilions Shopping Centre NCI X Shopify Pop-Up Eventback in May. As he looks forward to his upcoming graduation, he is now enjoying his new role as a marketing associate. In this latest interview with Myra Gleeson, Matthew talks about his upcoming graduation, how he has found the move from working in college to working full-time, and he reflects on his time in the course and how the practical experiences have benefited him. Matthew also gives an update about his Capstone project Silent Signs Store, the business created for his final year project that he still runs with his partner, fellow NCI upcoming graduate Ruairi Power.
This beautiful jewellery line that celebrates sign language was founded by Ruairi Power and Matthew Foy Daly. Each piece is crafted with passion and precision. Wearers are encouraged to embrace the cause and celebrate the power of a silent gesture and non-verbal communication. 
Browse SilentSignsStore.com

Ian Hunter spoke about his time at National College of Ireland, explaining how the links he formed during his time here allowed him to organically become a mentor to the current cohort of Marketing Practice students. His personal experience from studying at NCI, alongside his remarkable and impressive experience in the retail industry enables Ian to be the ideal mentor for the students. He speaks about the importance of venturing beyond the lecture halls and going out into the shops, using the opportunity to do free market research, and he shares that the Pop-Up Event in the Pavilions Shopping Centre simply gets better each year. According to Ian, on weekends 60,000 people can be expected to be shopping in Swords Pavilions, so the students will get to see how they fare in a busy, bustling environment. It will be challenging work, but it should hopefully be lots of fun too.

On Saturday, August 10th, and Sunday August 11th, 2024, another Pop-Up Event is taking place from 10am-6pm in the Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre. 
Pearle Candles, a candle company created by Aoife Robertson, Laura Clarke, and Shauna Lindsay will change the way you light candles forevermore. The candle-wax sand allows you to get creative! Light a candle in a cocktail glass, refill an old candle that has been sitting empty for months. Pearle Candles have elevated safety and sustainability because the self-extinguishable candles that burn out instantly if they got tipped over can be reused repeatedly. You can see the products in person on Saturday, August 10th, and Sunday August 11th, 2024. It is an event you will not want to miss. It is a brilliant opportunity for the public to support up-and-coming young entrepreneurs as well as seeing the direct experiences we offer students at NCI.

Learn more about Pearle Candles on TikTok

If you missed Matthew Foy Daly and Ian Hunter live on Near FM, listen again at your leisure by tuning into Near FM’s Listen Again Podcast. 
Listen Now to Part One
Listen Now to Part Two

#ChangingLivesThroughEducation