WWETB Winter Magazine 2017 | Page 24

44th WORLDSKILLS COMPETITION Abu Dhabi/14-19 October 2017 https://worldskillsabudhabi2017.com/en/ WHAT IS WORLDSKILLS? WorldSkills is a unique global biennial competition where young people from across the world compete to become the best of the best at their chosen skill – the Olympics for Apprentices. 1,200 COMPETITORS 68 COUNTRIES 51 SKILLS 698 COMPETITORS HAVE REPRESENTED IRELAND. …………………. …. ………………. IRELAND HAS PARTICIPATED IN ALL OF THE 37 COMPETITIONS HELD SINCE 1957. WHO ARE WHO ARE THE THE IRISH IRISH COMPETITORS? COMPETITORS? The Irish competitors, all of whom are under 25 are: 1. Colm Farrelly 8. Gavin Lyne 2. Ciara Daly 9. Sean Hogan 3. Aaron Ronan 10. Kevin Hough 4. Gary Horgan 11. Brendan Muldowney 5 James McSwiney 12. Stephen Murray 6. Micheál Flynn 13. David Donegan 7. Kathlyn Leahy 14. Eoin Shortall They come from: Cavan, Kerry, Waterford, Meath, Westmeath, Tipperary, Louth, Sligo, Wicklow & Kilkenny. Competitors have been in full-time training for the past 10 weeks under the direction of their coaches. The Irish Team has been trained in: Education and Training Boards (Kerry ETB, Waterford Wexford ETB, and Limerick Clare ETB), Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute, Institutes of Technology (CIT, DIT, IT Sligo & WIT), Shannon College of Hotel Management and Aer Lingus. WHAT CRAFTS ARE IRISH APPRENTICES, TRAINEES & STUDENTS SHOWCASING? IRELAND’S WORLDSKILLS RECORD — Aircraft Maintenance — Automobile Technology — Beauty Therapy — Cabinetmaking — Construction Metal Work — Electrical Installation — Heavy Vehicle Maintenance — Industrial Control — Joinery — Plastering & Drywall Systems — Plastic Die Engineering — Plumbing & Heating — Restaurant Service — Welding Ireland has won: 61 GOLD MEDALS 53 SILVER MEDALS 79 BRONZE MEDALS 160 DIPLOMA/MEDALLIONS FOR EXCELLENCE ……………………….. ………… In the last competition in São Paulo Brazil, Ireland achieved 11th place out of 55 participating countries.