Doors Open to Ireland’s Largest Skills Event30,000 Students Gather at WorldSkills Ireland 20259/22/2025 WorldSkills Ireland, the country’s largest skills and apprenticeship event, opens its doors today at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, welcoming more than 30,000 students from over 300 schools nationwide. Running from 17-19 September, the three-day event is a celebration of skills, apprenticeships, and career opportunities, inspiring the next generation of Ireland’s workforce. Now a cornerstone in the school calendar, WorldSkills Ireland 2025 provides a hands-on, inspirational experience for young people exploring pathways beyond traditional academia.  Minister Harkin, Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science opens WorldSkills Ireland 2025 — the country’s biggest showcase of skills and apprenticeships. Pictured with students Evie Devally and Kate Carty from St Andrew’s College, Dublin and John Purcell, Bricklaying Chief Examiner This year’s highlight sees 180 finalists go head-to-head in 35 National Competition Finals spanning construction, engineering, ICT, hospitality, logistics, automotive, creative arts, and more. The live competitions not only showcase the high standard of talent and ambition among Ireland’s apprentices and students, but also shine a light on the essential role skills play in building a future-ready workforce. Speaking about WorldSkills Ireland, Minister Lawless said: “WorldSkills Ireland is more than a competition - it's a national showcase of talent, ambition, and opportunity. It offers students, parents, and teachers a hands-on chance to engage directly with employers and education providers from across the country. At a time when skills are in such high demand across multiple industries, WorldSkills Ireland showcases the wide range of career opportunities available to young people, highlighting practical pathways into apprenticeships.  Ross Hastings from Rosary College, Crumlin with Isabel Johns and Myla Deegan from Griffin Community College, Lucan. “Today, you can become a social worker, civil engineer, or ICT professional through the apprenticeship route - roles that were once only accessible through traditional higher education. These pathways now offer real earning power, internationally recognised qualifications, and sustainable careers. “WorldSkills Ireland is helping to shift perceptions. It's a celebration of the skilled trades and professions that keep Ireland moving - and a reminder that investing in skills is investing in our future. The event underlines how these careers are not second-best, but first-choice options for a new generation ready to shape the future of our economy."  Students Sophie Mcnaughton, Abi Brodrick and Katie Sheridan from Lorento Abbey, Dalkey at WorldSkills Ireland 2025. Opening the show, Minister Harkin added: “Skills form the backbone of our economy, and this event demonstrates just how vital they are to Ireland’s continued growth and prosperity. WorldSkills Ireland shines a spotlight on the diverse and rewarding career paths available to young people – from traditional trades such as construction, engineering, and mechanics to emerging areas like Digital Marketing and ICT that are shaping our future economy. With employers across every sector crying out for skilled talent, the return of WorldSkills Ireland could not be more timely. It provides a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation, connect them directly with industry, and demonstrate that choosing a skills-based career is every bit as valuable and future-focused as pursuing a more traditional academic route.” Students attending will hear from Industry Heroes and rising stars on the Heroes Stage, meet employers actively recruiting new talent, explore opportunities from Ireland’s Education and Training Boards, Technological Universities, Universities, and Apprenticeship Consortium Employers, and experience cutting-edge learning through AI, Virtual Reality, and green technology showcases in the Further Education and Training Village.  Niamh Walsh and Abi Phillips from Lorento Abbey, Dalkey at the Fashion Design, Styling and Visual Merchandising showcase at WorldSkills Ireland 2025. Speaking on the opening day, Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, said: “Skills remain at the very heart of Ireland’s economic success. As we mark the fifth year of WorldSkills Ireland, it is clear that this event has grown into a cornerstone of the national education and career calendar, helping to reshape how young people, parents, and educators view skills-based pathways. Each year, the event has expanded its reach and impact, and in 2025 we are proud to bring together education, industry, and government once again to inspire and equip students with the knowledge, insights, and confidence they need to shape their futures. The momentum behind WorldSkills Ireland demonstrates the value of collaboration in tackling the skills gap and ensuring Ireland remains competitive on the global stage.”  Students from St.Raphaela’s Secondary School, Stillorgan watching beauty therapy competition in action. WorldSkills Ireland is a Government and all-industry initiative, working hand in hand to deliver the solution to Ireland’s skills shortage. Backed by leading industry partners including SISK, Construction Industry Federation and ESB Networks; sector sponsors including SIMI (Society of the Irish Motoring Industry) and Fáilte Ireland; and education partner, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, the event is also supported by the Government of Ireland and the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO). WorldSkills Ireland 2025 takes place at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, from 17-19 September, running alongside Higher Options. Entry is free, but registration is required at www.worldskillsireland.ie - a must-attend event for students, parents, and educators shaping Ireland’s future careers.  Kyle Coogan and Will Cullen, students at St. Fintan’s High School, Sutton; Alicia Keating student at Grange Community College, Donaghmede, Dublin and Philip Cleary, Chief Examiner, heavy vehicle mechanics.
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This September, from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th, Ireland’s largest skills event – WorldSkills Ireland 2025 – returns to the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin. The three-day celebration of apprenticeships, skills and careers will inspire young people from across the country as they explore exciting, future-focused career paths and options following secondary education. Firmly established as a must-attend event in school calendars, WorldSkills Ireland 2025 will welcome over 30,000 senior-level secondary students from more than 300 schools nationwide. In 2024, 75% of attendees came specifically to learn about practical, skills-based routes, a clear sign of the growing appetite for apprenticeships and technical careers. Ahead of the event, 180 students and apprentices from across Ireland have been named as competition finalists, including 11 competing in hospitality-based categories such as Cookery, Craft Butchery and Restaurant Service. A unique partnership between Government, Education and Industry, 2025 marks the fifth year of Ireland’s national skills event. Alongside Hospitality & Tourism, the event will expose the incredible opportunities on offer through an apprenticeship or skills-based career across a multitude of industries including Construction, Creative Arts, ICT, Automobile and Heavy Vehicle Technology, and Manufacturing and Engineering Technology. Committed to promoting excellence in skills and driving economic growth through a skilled workforce, this year’s event is supported by industry leaders across the hospitality sector, including Category sponsor, Fáilte Ireland and competition sponsors, Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA), Chef Network, BWG Food Supplies, MSLETB, Craft Butchers and Corcorans Food Equipment. Commenting on the announcement of the finalists for WorldSkills Ireland, Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, remarked: "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. Ray adds: “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." Backed by leading industry partners including SISK, Construction Industry Federation and ESB Networks; sector sponsors including SIMI (Society of the Irish Motoring Industry) and Fáilte Ireland; and education partner, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, the event is also supported by the Government of Ireland and the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO). The event will feature interactive ‘Try a Skill’ zones, immersive VR experiences, industry talks, live demonstrations across trades and technical professions, and companies ready to recruit. Designed to promote skills, apprenticeship careers and opportunities for young people, the event allows students, parents, teachers, and guidance counsellors to navigate the options available following secondary education. The Finals Day is set to take place at the RDS, Dublin on Friday 19th September and is a day not to be missed! Free to attend, registration for the event is now open – www.worldskillsireland.ie.  Pic 1 : Alan McCabe, Chief Examiner with competitors Robert Murray, Yeshuah O'Brien Bayer, Niamh McGee, Emily Callaghan, Jason Downey and Martin Browne, Chief Examiner.  Pic 2: Cookery competitors, Yeshuah O'Brien Bayer and Robert Murray  Pic 3: Craft Butchery competitors, Niamh McGee, Emily Callaghan and Jason Downey
Men and Women returning to work in the Hospitality & Service Industry after cancer treatment.10/17/2024 Are you between the ages of 18 and 64 and working in the hospitality or service-based industry? Have you completed cancer treatment within the last three years? If so, we want to hear from you! Trinity College Dublin would like to invite you to participate in an important research study on returning to work after cancer in the hospitality or service-based industry. About the Study All our lives have been touched in some way by cancer. For those with a diagnosis returning to work after cancer treatment can be a challenging journey. Our study aims to understand the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals in the hospitality and service sectors returning to work after treatment. Your insights will help us develop better support systems and resources for those navigating the transition back to work after cancer. Who Can Participate? We are looking for participants who:
Participants will be asked to:
By sharing your experiences, you will contribute to valuable research that aims to improve support services and workplace policies for cancer survivors. Your participation will help us create a more inclusive and understanding work environment for everyone affected by cancer and help provide future support services needed to return to work after treatment. For More Information If you are interested in taking part in our research or would like more information on our study, please provide your contact details in the link below and a member of the research team will be in touch with you as soon as possible: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12yB9DjvS0SLfdq_ezIm-YLfBNFlHyfuFmlj9PAOTyVo/viewform?edit_requested=true Alternatively you can contact TCD researcher: Hayley Connolly Phone: 087 1783738/ 01 8961349 Email: [email protected]  2024 European offal championship, taking place this year on November 26th in Paris. Bord Bia France is supporting the European offal championship organized every year on the rungis market. This is a friendly competition where chefs from all Europe are invited to come and display their best offal based dishes. Their support to the competition is a way to show the Rungis meat dealers their appreciation for the work done thorough the year (20000 tons of Irish meat and offal are traded every year including a significant proportion of steak cuts and lamb carcasses). It is also an opportunity to engage with traders and high profile or high potential chefs. Last year Ireland featured well with 2 Irish candidates including our Irish CIBC member Jospeh Doverman who finished 2nd. The competition is supported this year by Famous chef Nicolas Sale and judged by Chef Joseph Viola. Bord Bia are now looking for one or two Irish chefs to represent Ireland this year:
  THIS September, Ireland’s largest skills event – WorldSkills Ireland 2024 - will open its doors at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, promoting trade industry skills and apprenticeship opportunities for young people as they navigate future options following secondary education.
Attracting 30,000 students from across Ireland, the event is returning from Wednesday 25th to Friday 27th September, and will be a celebration of apprenticeships, skills and careers to inspire young people from across the country. Established in 1994, Great Taste is organised by the Guild of Fine Food and is the world’s largest, longest standing and most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food and drink producers worldwide. We are inviting food & drink professionals from within Ireland & Northern Ireland to join the team of judges in Clonmel, County Tipperary at the end of May. The judging teams are made up of chefs, hospitality & retail buyers, food writers and product innovators. Great Taste judges are not paid to ensure complete impartiality however, reasonable standard class travel expenses to & from the judging venue will be covered. A typical judging session is 3 hours and the day is split into TWO sessions; 10-1pm and 2-5pm. We ask judges to try to commit to a FULL DAY of judging, however if you can only make one session (AM or PM) please let us know. If you are able to join the judging panel in May, please state which date(s) and session(s) you are able to commit to: *Tuesday 28 May AM session: 10am-1pm PM session: 2pm-5pm *Wednesday 29 May AM session: 10am-1pm PM session: 2pm-5pm *Thursday 30 May AM session: 10am-1pm PM session: 2pm-5pm Lunch will be provided between sessions 1-2pm each day. *Please select the date and session(s) you can attend. Judging location: Hotel Minella, Coleville Road, Raheen, Clonmel, Tipperary E90 FY97 Finally, there are few important details we require ahead of judging, please answer the following questions:
If you would like to nominate someone you know who also works in the food or drink industry, please do introduce them to us via email and we will follow up with them directly. Judging for Great Taste is STRICTLY by invitation only. Watch this video to learn more about Great Taste judging. We look forward to hearing from you and further Joining Instructions will be emailed to you to confirm your judging session. Best regards Great Taste Team [email protected] TU Dublin Culinary Arts student, Alanna Moffitt was awarded the Gold Medal for her Banqueting dish, Silver Medal in the Plate Trophy and won the Trophy for the best young Rising Star Award at the recent 10th World Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) held in India. In total, student chefs from 60 countries competed in this international prestigious competition which was run over a 5-day period taking place in five of India’s major cities, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Pune Goa and Kolkata. Alanna stated that “it’s a Massive honour to be awarded trophies and medals at such a high level”, adding that culinary arts has opened a world of opportunities for her which she had never previously imagined. Dr Denise O’Leary (Head of School, Culinary Arts & Food Technology, TU Dublin) congratulated Alanna stating that “We are very proud of Alanna’s achievements. I look forward to following her career, especially as it is such an exciting time to become a chef.” Alanna's mentor George Smith (Lecturer Culinary Arts, TU Dublin) finally added that “an event like the World Young Chef Olympiad is a major opportunity to get recognition of your talent as a chef. “ (Photo 1: Alanna Moffitt (BA Culinary Arts Student TU Dublin, Gold and Silver Medals also Rising Star Best Chef World Awards, YCO 2024). Photo 2: George Smith (Lecturer Culinary Arts TU Dublin congratulates Alanna Moffitt (BA Culinary Arts Student TU Dublin, Gold and Silver Medals also Rising Star Best Chef World Awards, YCO 2024)
Further information: [email protected] (Lecturer Culinary Arts, TU Dublin), [email protected] (Head of Discipline – Food and Beverage Studies, School of Culinary Arts & Food Technology, TU Dublin).
AHEAD of Worldskills Ireland 2023, 160 students and apprentices from across Ireland have been named as competition finalists who will compete on the national stage during the three-day event in September, over 20 of whom will be competing in Hospitality and Tourism based competitions. Taking place at the RDS, Dublin from 20th – 22nd September, Worldskills Ireland 2023 is designed to promote skills, apprenticeship careers and opportunities for young people, and is set to welcome over 22,000 people including students, parents and teachers. A unique partnership between Government, Education and Industry, 2023 marks the third year of Ireland’s premier national skills event. Showcasing an array of industries including Construction, Creative Arts, Hospitality and Tourism, ICT, Automotive, and Manufacturing and Engineering, the finalists will go head-to-head in their respective categories for a chance to win the prestigious Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) Silver Medal alongside an opportunity to represent Ireland at Worldskills Lyon, France next year. Hospitality and Tourism categories will include Restaurant Service, Cookery and Craft Butchery.  “Having a career in the Hotel and Tourism sector has been a goal of mine for a number of years,” explained Kate Ryan, a competitor in the Restaurant Service competition. “I’m hopeful that competing at Worldskills Ireland 2023 will provide the perfect launch for my career and will enable my expertise to flourish. “Not only will I have the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and skills by working in a pressurised environment, I will also be able to make contacts for life and learn more about what a career in the industry has to offer, which is invaluable as I start out on my journey.” Supported by industry partners SISK, Construction Industry Federation, ESB Networks, Autodesk, Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus and education partners including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the Higher Education Authority (HEA), SOLAS and National Apprenticeship Office (NAO), Worldskills Ireland 2023 is designed to give students a chance to discover the key skills and sectors that drive the Irish economy. Michael Fitzgerald, Technical Training and Development Manager at ESB Networks said: “We are proud to be a sponsor of Worldskills Ireland, an exceptional three-day event that showcases the boundless career routes and opportunities available in the skills trades and technologies. “At ESB Networks, we recognise the significance of nurturing talent and empowering the next generation of skills professionals, which is why events such as Worldskills Ireland are so important – they provide an invaluable arena for young people to explore, excel and unlock their true potential in a variety of fields.” Sharon Balmaine, Head of Tourism Careers at Fáilte Ireland adds: "Tourism is a dynamic and exciting industry offering endless opportunities for young people to build a successful and rewarding career. From front-line roles to behind-the-scenes operations, the breadth and diversity of roles within the sector are vast, and the skills gained are transferable across many industries. With an ever-growing demand for tourism experiences, there has never been a better time for young people to consider a career in this vibrant industry. “That’s why a show like Worldskills Ireland is so important, it provides a huge opportunity for students to interact and meet with those working within the tourism sector, and learn about the many great career paths within this exciting industry. We look forward to welcoming students, teachers and parents to our stand across the three-days.” Commenting on the announcement of 2023’s National Finalists, Ray English, Worldskills Ireland Chair stated: “Congratulations to all the young people from across the country that are set to compete at the National Finals during Worldskills Ireland in September. “We believe that by promoting apprenticeships and skills-based careers, we can create a brighter future for our young people whilst simultaneously progressing and evolving Ireland’s wider business economy. “We are dedicated to empowering and inspiring the next generation of skills professionals in Ireland and we’re excited to work alongside our partners to continue to elevate the perception of skills and apprenticeships throughout various sectors and industries.” Ray further adds: “This year it has been announced that Higher Options, the annual education expo for second level students run by The Irish Times in partnership with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, is joining forces with Worldskills Ireland 2023 to create a mega careers event for young people. “By combining efforts and running the events concurrently, school leavers will gain from seeing Ireland’s most comprehensive showcase of career paths that are currently available. From skills and apprenticeships at Worldskills Ireland, to representation from universities, colleges, and further education providers at Higher Options, for young people this mega career week in September 2023 will prove to be an invaluable resource.” For further information on Worldskills Ireland 2023, visit www.worldskillsireland.ie. The Finals Day is set to take place at Worldskills Ireland 2023 on Friday 22nd September and is a day not to be missed. Register to visit for free now at: www.worldskillsireland.ie. |
