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“The event highlighted the career opportunities in various sectors including construction, and showcased options other then what CAO offers” – Dermot Carey, CIF Director of Safety and Training
“I was nervous before about joining construction as a woman, but now I’m not”. These were the words of a transition year student after visiting the Construction Industry Federation stand at the Ireland Skills Live event in the RDS.
The CIF were proudly in attendance at this national apprenticeship event, encouraging young people to consider careers in construction and spreading the message of equality and inclusivity in the industry.
Over 15,000 people, including second-level students, parents and teachers, flooded the RDS over the three-day event, eager to find out more about their future career options. Students who visited included Transition, Fifth and Sixth years from 180 schools across the country.
Ireland Skills Live promotes skills in apprenticeship, traineeship and graduate courses through competition linked to WorldSkills International standards. The expo included exhibits from more than 100 employers and included the option for students to “try a skill” and help them decide their future. It was a historic event for Ireland, as never before have all national skills competitions been held under one roof.
Dermot Carey, CIF Director of Safety and Training said:
“CIF are proud to have been a key sponsor of the Ireland Skills Live Event in the RDS. This was a fantastic showcase of the skills being taught to our young apprentices and the skills and knowledge that they have gained. The Irish economy needs a range of skills to ensure the development of infrastructure and to meet the needs of FDI companies and to ensure that this skill is being nurtured sustainably in Ireland. The event highlighted the career opportunities in various sectors including construction, and showcased options other then what CAO offers. This broad approach to career progression is welcome. We congratulate all who competed in the events and indeed all the examiners and organisers who had the vision to hold this event.”
Over the three days, 25 national skills finals took place, with 125 apprentices competing for silver medals and a chance to represent Ireland in the 45th WorldSkills finals in Kazan, Russia in August 2019.
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins visited the Ireland Skills Live event and said:
“The Ireland Skills Live event is a very important exhibition. It concentrates on most valuable skills, that some of the very best people can use in any part of the world. And at the exhibition I met some of the most dedicated teachers and all of the institutes here are doing far-seeing, future-oriented work and, I don’t mind saying, I would love to see all parents bring their young people here. I believe that this exhibition will in time be as important as the Young Scientist Exhibition.”
On the day, the Youngest Competitor at the event, Kerry’s Allanagh O’Sullivan, was the National Champion in Beauty Therapy, winning at just 17 years of age. Of the 27 medalists at the event, five were women. CIF would like to extend a huge congratulations to all who won on the day. See a full list of winners below.
The CIF would also like to extend a huge thank you to all our member companies who attended Ireland Skills Live, including: Jones Engineering, SISK, King & Moffatt, BAM Ireland, Clancy Construction, Collen Construction, CJK Electrical, JJ Rhatigan & Co, Leo Lynch, Mercury, Murphy Ireland, RoadBridge, STS Group, and Suir Engineering.
The List of National Skills Silver Medal Winners:
Aircraft Maintenance: – Eric Noonan Midland Aviation
Automobile Technology – Declan Moore DKIT Dundalk
Beauty Therapy – Alannagh O’Sullivan Kerry ETB
Bricklaying – Jason Shanahan TU Dublin
Building Infomation Modelling – Peter Jenkins WIT
Cabinetmaking – Jack Lynch GMIT Letterfrack
Carpentry – Liam Meehan TU Dublin
Car Painting – Ben McNair Ballyfermot/TU Dublin
Cookery – Aisling Delaney IT Tralee
Construction Plant Fitting – Brian Muldoon CIT Cork
Cloud Computing – Oliver Bal-Petre IT Tallaght
Electical Installation – Barry Forde MSL ETB
Hairdressing – Abigail Sheridan Waterford CFE
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics Daniel Curtin Athlone IT
Industrial Mechanic Millright – Niall Connelly MSLETB/CIT Cork
Joinery – Mark Wasson DKIT Dundalk
Logistics – Megan Yeates TU Dublin
Metal Fabrication – Patrick Twomey CIT Cork
Painting & Decorating – Nathan Richardson TU Dublin
Plasterwork – Jake Shannon CIT Cork
Plastic Die Enineering – Luke Brennan Autolaunch Ltd Sligo
Plumbing and Heating – Jack O’Donnell Athlone IT
Refrigeration – Dylan Casey CIT Cork
Restaurant Service – Ruairi Grealish SCHM Shannon School Hotel Management
Sheetmetal – Mairtin Scattergood TU Dublin
Visual Merchandising – Jenny Mangan TU Dublin
Welding Jack Gartlan – TU Dublin