Taoiseach and Minister O’Donovan announce the Team travelling to France to represent Ireland in World Skills Competition 2024
- Published on: 10 July 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan have today announced the 18 participants who will compete as Team Ireland at the 2024 World Skills event in Lyon, France in September.
The WorldSkills competition will see over 1,500 competitors from more than 71 countries and regions around the world demonstrate their skills across 62 skills areas. Team Ireland will compete in areas including Industrial Mechanics, Beauty Therapy, Restaurant Service and Cloud Computing.
Speaking today, Taoiseach Simon Harris said:
“I am delighted to announce the team of 18 inspiring young people who will compete in the world’s biggest skills competition. This event provides a fantastic opportunity for these incredibly talented individuals to demonstrate the quality of their skills and trade on an international stage.
“The World Skills competition also gives us an important platform to recognise and promote the value of skills-based learning in Ireland, and also to celebrate the incredible achievements of these young people here today as they begin their exciting journey to represent their country at this prestigious event.”
Minister O’Donovan said:
“I would like to congratulate these outstanding young people on being chosen to represent Ireland. We wish them the best luck as they begin their preparations to compete in the 47th World Skills competition.
We have such a wealth of talent in Ireland and the World Skills competition gives us an important space to showcase the variety and quality of skills that we are fostering, from traditional areas such as Building and Construction, to newer areas, such as Cyber and ICT
By competing at this very experienced level, Team Ireland is also showcasing the range and diversity of skills careers and Apprenticeships available in Ireland.
We hope that this will inspire today’s youth to explore the multiple career pathways available now through Further Education, Apprenticeships and Higher Education”.
Also speaking at the launch, WorldSkills Ireland-Chair/Technical Delegate Ray English said:
“We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic team of competitors to take part in the World Skills event this autumn.
World Skills is so much more than a competition, it’s gives us an important vehicle to promote a skilled future in Ireland, and to showcase the innovation of further and higher education programmes in Ireland today.”
Sean McLoughlin, who is part of Team Ireland and will be competing in electrical installations, said:
“To be able to compete at such a big event at something I am so passionate about is an honour for me.
The expertise and drive to succeed that Gerard Galligan is supplying me through my training in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) is incredible. The opportunities and knowledge I have gained from World Skills Ireland is something I will be forever grateful for.”
Ciara O’Sullivan, who is competing in Beauty Therapy at the World Skills competition, added:
“I’m honoured to be part of Team Ireland, representing my country, doing my passion. Being part of this team is inspiring and fulfilling to say the least. Upskilling, travelling and inspiring younger generations drive us on.
Beauty therapy as a skill has changed my life, and I am delighted that our teams’ various skills represent that skills really do change lives.”
Team Ireland competed for the first time in 1957 and has competed at every international competition since then winning 63 Gold medals, 53 Silver medals, 80 Bronze Medals and 174 Diplomas/Medallions of Excellence with 732 Team Ireland competitors. In 2016 Ireland Skills adopted the global branding to become WorldSkills Ireland.
ENDS
Photographs: Government Information Service (GIS).
Notes to Editors
Images from the launch at Government Buildings will follow from Maxwell photography.
Individual headshots of the competitors are available upon request at communications@solas.ie
Team Ireland will compete in World Skills categories including:
• Building and Construction
• Engineering and Manufacturing
• Transport and Logistics
• Cyber and ICT
• Social and Personal Services
Team Ireland
- All Competitors are under 25 years old in the year of competition
1. Automobile Technology
Jamie Connick, Wexford, attended Limerick ETB and SETU. Employer JA Boland Wexford
Apprentice Automobile Mechanic
2. Beauty Therapy
Ciara O’Sullivan , Kerry, attended Kerry college. Pursuing a degree in MTU after Lyon 2024
3. Cabinetmaking
Keith Roberts, Galway, is a fulltime student in ATU Letterfrack
4. Cloud Computing
5.
6. Fiachra Curran, Dublin is a full-time student in TU Dublin Tallaght
7. Cookery
Alanna Moffit from Cavan attended TU Dublin and is currently employed with Chef Daniel Hannigan
8. Cyber Security
Mark Drinan is a cyber security analysist with IBM. Mark lives in Dublin. Cyber Security is a team of two. Mark competed at the Global Skills Challenge in Australia
winning a gold Medal in preparation for Lyon 2024
9. Digital Construction BIM
Liam Roche, Wexford, is a student at SETU in Architectural Technology and a BIM practitioner
10. Electrical Installations
Sean Mc Loughlin is a native of Kildare and employed by GMAC Electrical. Sean is completing his apprenticeship and attended LOETB and ATU
11. MAMF-Industrial Mechanic
Gary Golden, Mayo, attended MSLETB and TUS Limerick for the craft of MAMF and is competing in Industrial Mechanics
10.Joinery
Joe Kelly, Galway, is an apprentice Carpenter/Joiner attended Donegal ETB and ATU Sligo and is competing in Joinery at Lyon 2024
12. Logistics Freight Forwarding
Finn Howard, Dublin, is a student at TU Dublin in Logistics studies.
13. Mechanical Engineering CAD
Ross Jones, Dublin , is a student of Mechanical engineering TU Dublin and is specialising in Computer Aided Design at Lyon 2024
14. Metal Fabrication
Daniel Kearns, Wexford, is an apprentice at Kent Stainless, Completed phase 2 at WWETB and Phase 6 at MTU
15. Painting and Decorating
Eric Bates, Offaly, is an apprentice Painter and Decorator completing his training at CDETB Ballyfermot and TU Dublin
16. Restaurant Service
Kate Ryan, Tipperary, is a full-time student at Shannon College of Hospitality Management
17. Visual Merchandising
Hannah Foley, Meath, is an undergraduate student at TU Dublin.
18. Welding
Lee Davison, Donegal, has completed his training at Donegal ETB and is employed at D&F piping
About SOLAS
SOLAS is the state agency responsible for Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. Our vision is to power the potential of individuals, communities and enterprise through lifelong learning and workforce transformation. In recent years we have led an ambitious FET Strategy Transforming Learning and driven change across the FET system – providing easier access; simplified pathways; a consistent learner experience; and a stronger identity. This has led to unprecedented growth and demand for FET, with the learner base growing by some 17% from 2022 to 2023. Indeed, we know that one in ten adults in Ireland – around 423,000 people – were engaged in apprenticeships, our construction skills schemes or other FET activity last year.
• Further information on SOLAS can be found at: www.solas.ie.
• Follow SOLAS on X: @solasfet.
About WorldSkills International
Founded in 1950, WorldSkills International is a global organisation that promotes vocational, technological, and service oriented education and training. It promotes skilled careers in 89 member countries and regions across the globe, all working with youth, educators, governments, and industries to help prepare the workforce and talent of today for the jobs of the future. WorldSkills gives youth the chance to compete, experience, and learn how to become the best in their skill of choice.
About WorldSkills Ireland
WorldSkills International then called the International Vocational Training Organisation (IVTO) in 1956 to promote industrial growth through raising national standards and showcasing Irish talent.
A WorldSkills Ireland Office was established to manage the running of national competitions which lead to the selection of the Irish World Skills team. The office also works to raise the profile and recognition of skills careers and apprenticeships through national and regional events. Through funding allocated by the Department of Further and Higher Education Research and Innovation, WorldSkills Ireland have organised and run the national competitions, each year since 1956 providing thousands of apprentices and the skilled youth of Ireland the chance to compete for the prestigious awards.