LYIT School of Tourism

LYIT School of Tourism, Killybegs, Co. Donegal is having another excellent year; increasing student intake and delivering a range of programmes for students and professionals in the hospitality industry.  In the past year, the Campus in Killybegs has been allocated €3M from the Higher Education Authority for capital investment, which will support future developments in Killybegs, a campus synonymous with hotel and catering training since 1969.

This past year saw the introduction of new, industry-based training programmes for staff in industry.  These training programmes were offered in hotels throughout the West / Northwest, where staff attended a series of workshops and training days with LYIT School of Tourism staff.  The programmes were focussed on Food and Beverage Operations and Front Office and Accommodation Operations, and was funded by Fáilte Ireland.

For restaurant supervisors and managers, we continue to offer a Diploma in Restaurant Operations Management, where industry professionals attend college classes two days per week over one year.  This programme focuses on issues of contemporary restaurant management including F&B management, finance, marketing, legislation and staff training and development.

In consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland, LYIT School of Tourism has re-validated these industry training programmes as a BA in Hospitality Management, a three year, level 7 degree which can be undertaken in conjunction with an industry Management Training Programme.  Each of the year sessions can also be taken in isolation for staff training and development.  We hope to roll this out on a national basis over the coming years for both hotels and restaurants.

LYIT School of Tourism is also committed to Chef Training, and has a variety of options available to support industry-based chefs to train and upskill during their careers.  The Advanced Certificate in Professional Cookery is offered in two modes – Immersion and traineeship – to suit the needs of individuals and establishments, and all modules on our full-time programmes are available to chefs at all levels to undertake on a part-time basis.

LYIT School of Tourism is one of the first colleges to offer a BA (Hons) in Culinary Arts, which has now been running for 5 years.  Many senior chefs in industry have returned to college to study a variety of management level modules as well as specialist kitchen and larder and bakery and confectionery modules, either on a full-time or part-time basis.

On our full-time BA in Culinary Arts programme, we are also the first college to offer two streams for students to choose after Year 1: Kitchen and Larder and Bakery and Pastry, thereby ensuring that students gain the in-depth practical skills required of industry.

We support our students gain practical industry experience throughout their studies with mandatory placements in all years.  We are happy to expand our network of industry partners, both at home and abroad, to ensure the best possible outcomes for both students and industry.

For further information on training, CPD or student placements, please feel free to contact:-

Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin

Head of Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts

LYIT Killybegs Campus

Shore Road, Killybegs, Co Donegal

t: +353(0)7491 86603

e: