Apprentices and students compete in Worldskills 2023

TWENTY-SEVEN students and apprentices will put their talents and knowledge to the test this September, when they compete at Worldskills Ireland 2023, the country’s largest experiential skills, apprenticeships and careers event.

Taking place at the RDS from September 22-27, Worldskills Ireland is expected to welcome over 22,000 people including students, parents and teachers, and will be a live celebration of apprenticeships, skills and careers with interactive demonstrations, career zones and employers who are ready to recruit.

Students from Tallaght, Newcastle, Crumlin, Drimnagh and Clondalkin will participate in the Worldskills.

Over 160 National Finalists will go head-to-head in a range of skills-based trades – including automation, constructions skills and culinary arts – for a chance to win the prestigious Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) Silver Medal and to represent Ireland at Worldskills Lyon next year.

Joining the other National Finalists from across the country are County Dublin natives: Jack Grehan, Bluebell, Gary Kett, Tallaght and Aron Timoney, Newcastle are competing in the Bricklaying competition.

Kyal Reid, Lucan is competing in the Cabinetmaking competition, David Walker Lynch, Clondalkin, is competing in Carpentry, Glenn Aka, Newcastle, Fiachra Curran, Terenure Robert Lichota, Crumlin, Liam Mayenco Vela, Dublin and Alan O’Regan, Dublin are all competing in Cloud Computing.

Adam Dempsey, Dublin and Jordan O’Neill, Drimnagh are competing in the Industrial Insulation competition, Ross Jones, Terenure is competing in the Mechanical Engineering CAD competition, Shannon Bradley, Kilmore and Paul Richardson Smith, Citywest, are competing in Painting and Decorating, Ryan Walsh, Tallaght in Sheetmetal and Leah Fahy, Walkinstown, in Visual Merchandising.

Supported by industry partners SISK, Construction Industry Federation (CIF), ESB Networks, Autodesk, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus and education partners including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the Higher Education Authority (HEA), SOLAS and NAO, Worldskills Ireland 2023 is designed to give students a chance to discover the key skills and sectors that drive the Irish economy.

Commenting on the announcement of 2023’s National Finalists, Ray English, Worldskills Ireland Chair added: “Congratulations to all the young people from across the country that are set to compete at the National Finals during Worldskills Ireland in September.

“Worldskills Ireland is the gateway to Worldskills Lyon in 2024, the 47th international competition which is taking place in France next year and we know that we have some incredibly talented young people in Ireland who will make us proud during the national and international competitions.

“We believe that promoting apprenticeships and skills-based careers, we can create a brighter future for our young people whilst simultaneously progressing and evolving Ireland’s wider business economy.”