Much of the effort in the five years after the purchase of the Industrial school in Letterfrack by Connemara West was spent in renovation work, painting, heating, wiring and plumbing.  Connemara West opened it’s first office in 1980 and also sought to provide space for other community based groups and networks, workshops, local employment and education.  Early in 1982 as a result of local research, a proposal was submitted to the newly formed Youth Employment Agency to establish a craft training programme in the Centre in Letterfrack.  The proposal was approved by the agency in May 1982 as a three year pilot programme.  The Craft Training Programme in Woodskills which incorporated joinery, wood carving, sculpture, marquetry, cabinet making and woodturning  began in October 1982.  The brochure gives some information on the Craft Training Programme and the other activities that Connemara West was involved in at that time.  It was designed by Tom McCrudden with original drawings by Tom.  The photograph is of 14 of the 16 participants in the Craft Training Programme in Woodskills which was the start of the journey which lead to the partnership with RTC Galway, GMIT Letterfrack  and now the Atlantic Technological University – ATU Connemara – the centre of excellence  for furniture design and technology in Ireland.