Work permit for Ireland (Cork)

Hi guys!

I'm looking for some advice from especially South Africans living in Ireland with regards to the procedure they followed to move there. I am currently a student in my final year of studies and would love to visit Ireland for a Protected content period in Protected content .
I want to do this in a working sense and gain some experience. Thus, I will be needing a work visa and would like to know how hard this is to come by. Is it possible to get a job in Ireland, then get a visa to come over? I know there are certain regulations that employers need to abide by before employing non-EU citizens.
Is this a big kicker?

I would really appreciate any advice or comments!

Kind regards,
Gerbrand Gildenhuys