Network West Cork award winner: ‘I started on the factory floor and worked my way up’

Leaving school early does not have to mean the end to education.

So says Mary Cadogan, who is speaking from experience having left school before sitting her Inter Cert.

The West Cork woman is currently completing her degree in supply chain management and has ambitions to do a masters in the area, and says “it’s never too late to learn”.

Mary, originally of Caheragh, now lives in Skibbereen.

“I grew up on a farm, ended up leaving school just before my Inter Cert, at 5,” she says.

At 16, she started work in Ardtech Industries, Drimoleague which manufactured computer mice: “I always had a drive for leadership and after just a few months, at the age of 17, I was made line supervisor.”

From there she worked in a factory in Dunmanway for a few years, where she was shift supervisory manager, and then ed O’Donnell Design in Skibbereen in 1996, where she works today as procurement and transport manager.

“I started on the factory floor and worked my way up,” said Mary.

She completed a diploma in supply chain management last year at the University of Limerick, and this year has embarked on her degree. Its mostly online learning in the evenings. This has the bonus dual effect of learning and working to combine practice and theory together.

I’ve an ambition to do my masters as well and who knows what from there? It really feels like this is what’s meant for me at this time.

Mary used the pandemic lockdowns to upskill in various areas: “I really developed my love of learning during that time. I did various remote courses and I really enjoyed it.”

Her commitment to continuous education doesn’t come from a place of having to prove anything – to herself or to anyone else – because of being an early school leaver: “I just have great ion for my work, love my job, and want to know as much as possible, with continuous learning, and not to stand still for a moment.”

And she does want people, regardless of their age, to realise that leaving school doesn’t have to mean an end to education.

“I didn’t actually like school that much. I’d rather have done anything than be there – I loved helping out on the farm, feeding calves, helping with the hay, doing anything at all where you could see results from the jobs done back then. I was lucky that my parents ed me in my decision which really helped.”

Mary ed Network West Cork during the pandemic when all meetings and events were online.

It was a great channel in lockdown, and opened up a whole new network, as well as another whole new pathway.

“Networking is so important and I would encourage all girls and women, to get involved, go to an event, and take it step by step and you will find many benefits.

“It’s a fantastic group to be part of. There’s mentoring, and friendship, and so much more from such a similar-minded group. It’s a great outlet professionally as well as socially”.

Winning the ‘Employee Shining Star’ award recently was a really great moment, she said. “I was over the moon – it was still sinking in a whole week later to be honest.

It was great validation of everything I’ve achieved. With this award, I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to my late mom who worked so hard, in an era when women were not recognised for all the great work that they did.

Included on that list of achieve-ments is being chairperson of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Ireland (South) and council member.

“It is a very male-dominated space but I’m so lucky as I’ve also found it to be a very welcoming one,” she said.

“I am also working on growing female in the whole field of logistics and transport, and managing some investment property in West Cork.”

When Mary isn’t working or studying, she enjoys playing a role in her community: “I’m involved in the Caheragh Threshing every year, which is a fundraiser for Breakthrough Cancer Research, and I also do so voluntary work for BCR – PPI .

Gardening is another ion of mine and walking my dog, Daisy. I also enjoy flower arranging, reading, and music.

Her ultimate advice is that learning is a life-long process.

“School isn’t for everyone, and you can’t force yourself into something if it doesn’t feel right. There are so many opportunities out there now for people, and things do fall into place and come together and I’m proof of that.

“My message is that you’ll find your place, and that your time will come. “