Six Carlow students to compete at WorldSkills national final
Four of the six Carlow competitors - Sean Collier, Cian Abbey, Severinas Skultinas and Rhys Geoghegan
SIX Carlow students and apprentices have been selected to compete in the WorldSkills Ireland national final at the RDS.
WorldSkills Ireland, the country’s leading showcase of skills, apprenticeships, further education and training, and skills-based careers, takes place from Wednesday to Friday, 16-18 September.
In total, 160 students and apprentices will compete across 31 live skills competitions in sectors including construction, automotive, digital technology, manufacturing and engineering.
The Carlow representatives at WorldSkills are Aaron Davis from Hacketstown, who will compete in the automobile technology category; Ballon’s Severinas Skultinas in bricklaying; Cian Abbey, also from Ballon, in heavy vehicle mechanics; Sean Collier from Graiguenamanagh in cabinet making; Rhys Geoghegan from Carlow town in toolmaking; and Ivan Kotov, also from Carlow town, who will compete in the mechanical engineering CAD category.
Visitors to the RDS, which will also host event across the three days, will be able to witness in real time the skill and precision displayed by those in apprenticeships and technical careers.
Students, parents, teachers and career guidance counsellors will also get a chance to see the standards expected by the various industries and the wide range of career and progression opportunities available through apprenticeships, further education and training.
WorldSkills Ireland chair Ray English said skills and apprenticeships are “fundamental” to Ireland’s future, helping to support the economy and create opportunities for young people across the country.
He added that the WorldSkills event has an important role to play in changing perceptions of apprenticeships.
“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,” Mr English said.
“By seeing competitors perform at a national level, students can better understand the standard involved and the opportunities open to them,” he added.
WorldSkills Ireland 2026 takes place from Wednesday to Friday, 16 to 18 September at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin. For more information, visit WorldSkills Ireland.
