About pfiddle

pfiddle is the pseudonym of Peter O’Connor who is half of the workforce of Glenribbeen Eco Lodge, Glenribbeen, Lismore, Co Waterford, Ireland. Complete CV below.

Glenribbeen on FaceBook Glenribbeen on TripAdvisor

I’d helped out a pensioner up the road with a plumbing job. The helmet is ‘a tip’ – a left-over from a great great grandfather I think

Peter has studied Construction Studies in Dundalk’s IT (R.T.C. back then) and Sustainable Domestic Energy at South Tipperary IT as well as having a BER (Building Energy Regulations) Certificate. He’s also a qualified teacher of English (T.E.F.L.) and a teacher of Irish traditional music (T.T.C.T.). Other diplomas include VHF licence and a Dutch inshore Captain’s Licence for commercial boats up to 20meters. He likes cooking (“I love food – I eat nothing else”), reading, walking, animals and nature in general. He holds 7 All Ireland medals for music. One for (College Tug-of-War) and once saved a stranded dolphin.
In 2009 under Peter’s influence Glenribbeen Eco Lodge gained 26 points (18.5 needed) to become the only accommodation in the South of Ireland to have the E.U. Green Flower Award.
Glenribbeen Eco Lodge also won the Georgina Campbell ‘good food’ Award the same year.

Peter & Francis Brennan of The Park Hotel Kenmare raise the E.U.Green Flower flag

Meditation Hut at Glenribbeen.

Summer Solstice at Glenribbeen Eco Lodge '09.

Hens roost before going to bed.

Hens ==> Eggs on legs.
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Els and Peter – taken from the TV show on Glenribbeen – “At Your Service” 2009.

From TV programme - "At Your Service".

More photos at Peter’s Blog

A Winter's Dawn over the Stone tower in Glenribbeen's garden.

More reasons than most to visit Ireland.: http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0719/ibecreport.pdf

Looking toward Monatrim-Upper from kitchen Glenribbeen July evening 2010.

Peter O’Connor CV,

 

Glenribbeen Eco Lodge,                                                  e-mail; pfiddle@gmail.com

Glenribbeen,                                                             Website; www.glenribbeen.com

Lismore,                                                                                      Business;  058 54499

Co Waterford                                                                              Mobile;  086 601 7176

 

Born; Drogheda-Co Louth. July 1956.                         PPS; 9018747k

 

Education

 

·    1974 completed Leaving Certificate De La Salle, Dundalk.                        (Major Award FETAC-5)

 

 Irish educational achievements include 7 x FETAC-6 certificates. 4 x FETAC-5 Certificates.

 

2011 September – Current.    Second year in part-time degree course in WIT sponsored by Fáilte Ireland.

BSc in Small Business Enterprise.

 

2012             Manual Handling Instructor Course, Althire, Glanmire Cork. (Distinction grade) (FETAC-6)

 

2012             Train the Trainer, Skillnet, Waterford Chamber, Waterford.                                           (FETAC-6)

 

2011             Certificate in Renewable Energy, GreenWorks, Farranferris Collage, Cork.       (FETAC-5)

 

2011             Certificate in Sustainability, GreenWorks, Farranferris, Cork ECO-UNESCO   (FETAC-5)

 

2011             Certificate in Tourism Business Practice. Fáilte Ireland, Waterford.                               (FETAC-6)

 

2008             B.E.R. (Building Energy Regulations), Chevron, Waterford.                               (FETAC-6)

 

2004             Completed modules in Domestic Sustainable Energy. Unfinished due to car accident. Clonmel.

 

2002             Start Your Own Business Course, VTOS, Portlaw, Co Waterford.                              (FETAC-5)

 

2001             T.T.C.T. Teaching Traditional Irish Music. C.C.E. Monksland, Dublin               (FETAC-6)

 

2001             T.E.F.L.Teaching English as a Foreign Language – Diploma (Merit) Edinburgh UK(FETAC-6)

 

1978                            National Certificate in Construction Studies

Architectural Technician, RTC, Dundalk                                                   (Major Award FETAC-6)

 

 

 

Currently studying (part-time) for a degree in business in W.I.T. (BSc Small Enterprise Management).

 

Presently working as music teacher in the evening on a 1 on 1 basis and teaching archery Sunday mornings.

 

On board of Knockmealdown Mountains Forum; Sustainable Use for Citizen Health.

 

Further studies include, CAD Basic,  full power-boat licence and sail boat (commercial) to 20m (Netherlands Marine Institute), VHF licence (Dutch and Irish authorities), Industrial First Aid  and Advanced PADI Diving Licence, ECDL.

Various other courses have been taken to enhance my understanding of eco-building and life-style.

 

Hobbies include:   playing various musical instruments (7- All Ireland medels), entertaining, archery, water sports, working on ecological projects with friends.

For entertainment I watch rugby and hurling, I also like to garden, read and run an eco-blog. .

 

 

 

Career History

Glenribbeen Eco Lodge was awarded 4 petals (2010) in the Portuguese 5-Petal Eco Accommodation Scheme as recognition for my continuing work on developing Ireland as an eco-friendly accommodation destination. Again awarded Georgina Campbell “good food” Award 2012.

 

Currently Studying Business at WIT BSc in SME sponsored by Fáilte Ireland also running Glenribbeen Eco Lodge.

 

2010             Short spell with Heat Craft Ltd., selling Solar Panels.

 

2010             Nominated for Fáilte Ireland Tourism Business Challenge.

 

2009             Awarded Georgina Campbell “good food” Award.  Again in 2012.

 

2009             GHA (Ireland) Gold Award for eco-accommodation.

 

2009             Awarded the E.U. top eco award The Eco-Flower for eco-accommodation.

 

2008             Chosen to feature in RTE’s ‘At Your Service’ programme; they had researched and selected our B&B business specifically due to our music and eco projects.

 

2007             Opened self-catering apartment under the B&B which sleeps 5

 

2001             Underwent chemotherapy for leukaemia at Ardkean Hospital, Waterford.

 

2001             Won second prize at (senior mandolin) All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil and passed the C.C.E. T.T.C.T. – traditional music teacher’s course.

 

1998             Purchased and renovated a property near Lismore Co. Waterford as eco – B&B.

 

1998             Returned to Ireland. Spent 5 months working with Ring Cheese and studied HASSEP at UCC.

 

1996-8          Following a fall and wrist injury helped start-up several cafés with promotions and cellar-work when Murphy’s came to Netherlands and eventually helped set up the various ‘Irish Bars’ in Amsterdam. Worked evenings as barman and short-order cook.

 

1986             Studied boat electronics and expanded renovation company (O’Connor Decoration) to include boat restoration.  Moved to Haarlem to be nearer museums employing me.

 

1982-86        Started ‘Small Building and Renovation Company’ renovating old Amsterdam Canal Houses and (later) classic boats; work came mostly via the museums and Amsterdam City Council. During the winter months I worked in a small artisan shop on the Albert Cuyp in Amsterdam selling mattresses and cutting and moulding foam for diverse uses – from simple chair-forms to art-form-models and bespoke musical instrument-case padding.

 

1979                            Contracted for temporary work for 12 months in Amsterdam. Asked to stay on on a caretaker-basis while a colleague travelled for a year. Remained however ‘till Feb 1982.

 

 

 

Ongoing:

Developing eco-projects, Glenribbeen archery and music school. Helping to run Glenribbeen Eco Lodge.

At collage was elected ‘class rep’ and sit with the college board at least once a semester.

 

My work for the “Certificate in Tourism Business Practice” won a nomination for the Fáilte Ireland Business Enterprise Awards Ireland 2010. Have also worked with Fáilte Ireland on food related projects.  My work is this was rewarded with Fáilte Ireland sponsoring my studies at WIT for a BSc in business.

Currently board-member of the new county forum for the development of the Knockmealdown Mountains (Waterford)).