Gary Horgan, Knocknagoshel, Ciara Daly, Listowel, Gavin Lyne, Killarney who will compete in Abu Dhabi at Worldskills 2017.
THREE apprentices from Kerry Education and Training Board flew out to Abu Dhabi this week to participate in WorldSkills 2017.
Gavin Lyne and Gary Horgan and trainee Ciara Daly, will represent Ireland at the 44th WorldSkills, in the areas of Automobile Technology, Heavy Vehicle Mechanics & Beauty Therapy, competing against 68 other countries.
WorldSkills is a unique global event that takes place every two years with young people from across the world competing to become the best of the best at their chosen skill. It is the Olympics for those involved in Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
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Having competed against their Irish peers at the National Skills Competition Finals held in December 2016, Gavin, Gary and Ciara are among the 14 young people under the age of 25 who comprise Team Ireland in Abu Dhabi.
Gavin Lyne from Aghadoe in Killarney is a Motor Mechanic Apprentice, employed by Ahern’s Garage Castleisland.
He completed Phase 2 of his Apprenticeship at the Kerry ETB Training Centre in Monavalley, Tralee, where his father, James Lyne, is the course Instructor.
Gavin went on to compete in the National Apprenticeship Awards during phase 4 of his apprenticeship.
At the final stage Gavin had to beat off competition from Apprentices at phase 6 level to win a place on Team Ireland.
In recent weeks he has been undergoing further training in Waterford, Dublin and Dundalk to prepare, working on Nissan, Hyundai, Mercedes, BMW and OPEL engines. Gavin will start the competition on 14th October, his 21st birthday, followed by a grueling four days of stiff competition.
Ciara Daly, a 19 year old from Listowel, is the Irish Beauty Therapy competitor for World Skills. She began studying Beauty Therapy in Kerry ETB Training Centre one year ago, where she gained a broad spectrum of ITEC, CIBTAC, CIDESCO and other international qualifications, to include Beauty, Body and Complementary Therapies.
Ciara did an extensive programme at the Kerry ETB Training Centre all summer to prepare, covering Hand Sugaring Techniques, Fantasy Makeup and Nails, Advanced Facial Techniques, Spa Body Treatments and Eyelash Extensions, under the guidance of Tara O’ Halloran Cronin, who is the Kerry ETB Beauty Therapy Traineeship Instructor and also one of the WoldSkills Examiners, travelling to Abu Dhabi.
Ciara has represented Kerry and won the National Skills Competition in February 2017. She then went on to represent Ireland in the China International Skills Competition in May 2017. She won a Bronze Medal for Irealnd in Beauty Therapy.
”I feel extremely proud and priveleged to represent Ireland in the World Skills Competition. Being an ambassador for Beauty Therapy for Ireland is a wonderful opportunity, an amazing experience – a journey I will never forget”, Ciara said.
Gary Horgan from Shanafona, Knocknagoshel, is the third competitor. He is a Heavy Vehicle Maintenance Apprentice and is employed by his parents Mike and Breda Horgan in the family business MH Truck Centre Ltd.
Gary, who is 22 years, did his Apprenticeship phases at the ETB Training Centre in Tallaght for Phase 2, DIT Bolton St. for phase 4 and Athlone IT for phase 6.
“I want to wish the other two Kerry competitors and all of Team Ireland, the very best of luck”, said Breda, Gary’s mother. “He has been gone from home for over 3 months getting training from his Bolton St. lecturer Tom Murphy who gave his own time over the summer to make sure Gary was ready for the competition. All the Team Ireland competitors had to get their fitness levels up for the gruelling competition ahead and were put through their paces in a boot camp over the summer to be able to withstand the heat levels in Abu Dhabi. They met with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton two weeks ago. So it’s been a busy time”, Breda said.
Aside from preparing in their skill area, Team Ireland have been in the gym and at various briefings over the last number of weeks to help them be prepared physically and psychologically for the massive scale for the event as well as the heat in Abu Dhabi.
Over 1,200 competitors are involved in 51 different skill areas. Ireland has competed in all of the 37 competitions held since 1957. In that time Ireland has won 61 Gold Medals, 53 Silver Medals, 79 Bronze Medals and 160 Diplomas/Medallions for Excellence.
Team Ireland are showcasing their skills in: 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; and Welding.
