The Cork-based Ireland Munster Centre (IRM), a local branch of transport organisation IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers), has been named International Region of the Year by IRTE’s umbrella body the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) for its contribution to promoting road transport engineering in the Munster region. Founded in 1982, the centre promotes lifelong learning for local engineers and encourages young technicians and apprentices involved in road transport across Munster. With a base in the UK, SOE has international regions across Ireland, Hong Kong and South Africa. IRM was chosen from amongst these to hold the honoured title at an event last month at London’s Royal Automobile Club. IRM was chosen for the award due to its calendar of specialist technical events for local engineers and its active encouragement of young engineers through its Motor Apprentice Education Awards, presented in co-operation with the Cork, Limerick and Waterford Institutes of Technology. The awards are presented in April each year at a ceremony in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel in Cork City and the scheme has been an outstanding success, with the ceremony attended by representatives from the motor industry, colleges, press and transport personnel from across the Munster region. [caption id="attachment_9279" align="alignright" width="699"] LIT student Michael Sheehan receives his award from representatives of the Ireland Munster Centre[/caption] The centre’s top award this year (2013) went to motor engineering apprentice Michael Sheehan from Mallow. Sheehan was nominated for the award by Limerick Institute of Technology and is employed by Blackwater Motors in Fermoy, Co Cork. “Transport engineers from the Munster region attend our technical lectures on a regular basis, along with lecturers and students from the Cork, Limerick and Waterford Institutes of Technology,” said IRM chair Donal Buckley. “We’ve a dedicated and hard-working Centre Committee that sources first-class technical lecturers from within the EU, providing various topics of interest for the motor and transport industries. “As a result, our events are extremely important for networking and social and professional development for transport engineers employed within the motor transport industry. We’re proud to be selected as International Region of the Year 2013 by the Society of Operations Engineers.” “The work done by the Munster Centre in encouraging and inspiring apprentices and young engineers has a far-reaching impact,” said SOE chief executive Peter Walsh. “At a time when there are fears for the continuation of technical skills and engineering, the Munster Centre is making a real contribution to the future of engineering in its area.” IRM hosts a series of specialist technical lectures from September to April each year in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork City on the third Thursday of each month. The lectures are open to anyone wishing to attend. Click here for more information.