Wicklow’s Petra O’Flaherty and Paul Quinn prepare for competition at WorldSkills Ireland.
Five Wicklow students and apprentices will put their talents and knowledge to the test when they compete against their peers on the national stage during the live competitions at WorldSkills Ireland in the RDS, Simmonscourt, from September 17 to 19.
Across three days, Wicklow’s Tommy Chen (cloud computing), Tom Farrelly and Ecaterina Ghilenschi (craft butchery), Petra O’Flaherty (architectural stonemasonry) and Paul Quinn (additive manufacturing) will go head-to-head against over 180 finalists in a range of skills-based trades.
Dedicated to promoting skills, apprenticeship careers, and workplace opportunities for young people, WorldSkills Ireland will welcome more than 30,000 senior-level secondary students from more than 300 schools across Ireland to discover real alternatives to university and explore exciting, future-focused career paths.
The event will also feature interactive ‘try a skill’ zones, immersive VR experiences, industry talks, live demonstrations across trades and technical professions, and companies ready to recruit.
Commenting on the announcement of the finalists, WorldSkills Ireland chair Ray English remarked: “WorldSkills Ireland is a celebration of talent and a vital platform for promoting apprenticeship and skills-based career opportunities.
“This year, students and apprentices from across the country will compete in 35 different skill areas, each working to exacting standards and under time pressure. It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase their abilities and, for some, take the next step towards representing Ireland on the world stage.
“This event opens doors for students to discover exciting alternatives to traditional academic routes, shining a light on the variety of training and apprenticeship options available, and the rewarding careers they can lead to.”