ATU students and apprentices victorious in six categories at Worldskills Ireland 2023

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) won an incredible six categories at the recent Worldskills National Final in Dublin in categories such as Electrical Installations, Carpentry, Joinery, Toolmaking, Digital Infrastructure and Cabinetmaking.

ATU Galway engineering student Sean Doyle from Coolaney, Co Sligo, won the Digital Infrastructure Design award for his creation of a data rich linear infrastructure model and ATU Galway Connemara student Keith Roberts from Ballyconneely, Connemara, Co Galway, won the Cabinetmaking category.

ATU Sligo apprentice Sean McLoughlin from Naas, Co Kildare, won the Electrical Installations category and Roscommon native Daniel Connolly from Castlerea claimed victory in the Carpentry category. ATU Sligo student Joe Kelly from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, won the Joinery category while Co Clare native Max Boland from Shannon was the winner of the Toolmaking category. These ATU students fought off challenging competitors to take home these victories. 

ATU students competed against over 160 finalists in the 2023 Worldskills Ireland (WSI) event which took place in the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, from 20 to 22 September. Attended by over 30,000 visitors, the competition inspires the next generation of skilled young people to follow their passions, interests, and talents for the securement of their futures. 

ATU President Dr Orla Flynn congratulated the apprentices and students on their achievements in the final, saying: “Atlantic TU has been doing significant work to evolve apprenticeship and skilled-based learning programmes with academic partners and enterprise and these awards are a testament to this. I want to congratulate all the participants and acknowledge the commitment and dedication of our students and the supporting staff who have made this possible.

“These students will progress to skills-based careers in their chosen field with expertise that has been enhanced by these learning environments, for industries with skills shortages. I would like to wish all the apprentices and students well on the next steps of their journey.”

About Worldskills

Worldskills is a partnership between enterprise, industry, education, training, and government that raises the profile and recognition of skills and apprenticeships, and promotes college courses, apprenticeships and traineeships that offer skills and on-the-job learning. It also aims to help to address the serious skills shortage identified in Ireland and help inform students about the exciting career paths available through such courses.

ENDS