Taoiseach and Minister O’Donovan announce the Team travelling to France to represent Ireland in World Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan have 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.
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.
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