Four Mayo students prepare for WorldSkills Ireland 2026
Four students and apprentices from Mayo will compete on the national stage when WorldSkills Ireland returns to RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, from Wednesday, September 16 to Friday, September 18.
WorldSkills Ireland is the country's leading showcase of skills, apprenticeships, Further Education and Training, and skills-based careers. The event at the RDS will bring together Ireland's next generation of talent for three action-packed days of live competitions, interactive experiences and opportunities to explore education, training and career pathways.
Representing Mayo at WorldSkills Ireland 2026 are: Conor Martin from Ballina, competing in cooking; Rachel Kearney from Westport, competing in freight forwarding; Tom Finan from Crossmolina, competing in joinery; and Patrick Geraghty from Belmullet, competing in plastering and drywall systems.
More than 160 students and apprentices will compete across 31 live National Skills competitions. Working under competition conditions, they will demonstrate industry-standard skills in real time, showcasing the talent, knowledge and technical expertise required across Ireland’s workforce.
Competitions will cover sectors including construction, manufacturing and engineering, automotive, creative arts, hospitality and tourism and digital technology.
The live competitions are at the heart of WorldSkills Ireland, giving visitors the opportunity to see the skill, precision and commitment involved in apprenticeship and technical careers.
They also allow students, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors to see first-hand the standards expected by industry, and the wide range of progression and career opportunities available through apprenticeships and Further Education and Training.
Commenting ahead of the event, Ray English, WorldSkills Ireland Chairperson, said: “Skills and apprenticeships are fundamental to Ireland’s future. They support our economy, strengthen industries and create real opportunities for people across the country. “WorldSkills Ireland brings that message to life by showing young people the value of practical learning and the rewarding careers it can lead to.
“The event also has an important role to play in changing perceptions. “Apprenticeships and technical careers are not alternative or lesser routes; they are ambitious pathways that require real ability and can lead to long-term success. By seeing competitors perform at a national level, students can better understand the standard involved and the opportunities open to them.”
Alongside the competitions, WorldSkills Ireland 2026 will offer students, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors the opportunity to explore skills and apprenticeship, Further Education and Training, skills-based pathways through interactive demonstrations, and hands-on ‘Try a Skill’ experiences. There will also be industry talks and direct engagement with employers, industry bodies and education and training providers.
The event aims to challenge outdated perceptions surrounding vocational and technical careers, while highlighting the vital role that skilled people play in supporting communities, strengthening industries and driving Ireland’s economy.
WorldSkills Ireland will once again run alongside The Irish Times Higher Options. Together, the events will allow visiting students to explore the full range of options available after school, including university, apprenticeships, Further Education and Training, tertiary programmes and skills-based careers.
With more than 30,000 visitors expected and over 300 schools set to attend, WorldSkills Ireland 2026 will provide a unique platform for young people to meet employers and education providers, experience skills in action, and discover the education, training and career pathways available to them.
Those seeking further details and information, or who would like to attend World Skills Ireland at the RDS, are asked to please visit here.