Two Carlow students set to compete on national stage in WorldSkills Ireland event

Two students from County Carlow will go head-to-head in the highly competitive WorldSkills Ireland event in the RDS this month.

WorldSkills Ireland is the country's leading event dedicated to promoting skills, apprenticeship careers, and workplace opportunities for young people and this year it is returning to the RDS from 17-19 September.

Carlow students Ivan Kotov and Laura Breen will be among the 180 finalists competing this year in a range of skills-based trades including automotive, construction, creative arts, hospitality, ICT and manufacturing and engineering. 

Ivan will be competing in Mechanical Engineering CAD and Laura will be competing in Hairdressing. The Carlow students will put their talents and knowledge to the test as they will compete against their peers on the national stage during the live competitions across the three-day event.

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The event will welcome over 30,000 senior-level secondary students from over 300 schools across Ireland in order to give students a chance to discover practical alternatives to university and explore exciting, future-focused career paths. 

The WorldSkills Ireland 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 for WorldSkills Ireland, Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, said: "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."

He added: "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. By championing skills and apprenticeships, we’re helping to develop the expertise and innovation needed for Ireland’s industries to thrive. The combined support of educators, industry leaders and government makes WorldSkills Ireland a unique and powerful driver for the future of our young people and our economy."

The Finals Day is set to take place at the RDS on Friday, 19 September. The event is free to attend and registration is now open at www.worldskillsireland.ie.