Paul Hosty of IT Sligo and PDJ Construction has scooped the top prize for Joinery in this year’s Ireland Skills competition, the annual showcase for outstanding young craft talent.
It is the sixth successive year that an IT Sligo trainee has won the top Joinery prize.
Paul, who is from Castlegar, Co Galway, has completed his Phase 4 and 6 Apprenticeship programs in IT Sligo and has been working with PDJ Construction Ltd of Ballinasloe, Co Galway, for five years.
His success crowned a remarkable performance by IT Sligo’s competitors that underpinned its reputation as the leader in advanced wood and sustainable building technology nationally.
Each year, the top students from the Apprenticeship programs and the new BSc in Advanced Wood & Sustainable Building Technology course at IT Sligo are nominated to take part in the Ireland Skills competitions.
Congratulating the Institute’s six finalists and its specialist teaching staff, Trevor McSharry, Head of Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, said the current pickup in the construction sector makes this a good time for students to choose related courses at IT Sligo.
The Institute’s other five finalists in Joinery and Carpentry were top place-winners in the competitions, which were held at Cork Institute of Technology.
As well as the Ireland Skills Joinery 1st prize, Paul received the John Sisk & Sons Joinery Trophy, presented by Dave Treacy, the firm’s Training Manager,
In the final, competitors using hand tools and machinery had to shape an intricately designed sash window frame with a curved head and glazing bars.
Paul said: “I was delighted. It really was unexpected. I was in the final in 2012 and came second and at the time I thought that was good – but this time, it’s even better.
“I have to thank everyone at IT Sligo – fair play to John Joe O’Reilly and his colleagues there — and here, too, at PDJ Construction. They have given me all the time off that I needed for my courses and project training.”
IT Sligo lecturer John Joe O’Reilly, who is the Ireland Skills Chief Joinery Expert, said: “All our students performed to a very high standard and represented the Institute with great distinction over the demanding 19 hour competition. Great credit must also go to all the staff of the Department of Applied Technology in IT Sligo.”
The other IT Sligo trained students finalists were: Joinery – David Burgess from Leixlip, Co Kildare (2nd) and Jamie Conlon, Dromahair, Co Leitrim (3rd): Carpentry – David Sheehy, Killarney, Co Kerry ( 2nd); Aaron Pearson, Ballybofey, Co Donegal (3rd) and Diarmuid O Finneadha, Lochan Beag Indreabhan, Co. na Gallimhe (4th).
Kieran Gallagher, Programme Chair of the BSc in Advanced Wood & Sustainable Building Technology at IT Sligo, said: “We are committed to delivering a modern innovative programme which will meet the future needs of the industry. We heartily congratulate Paul and all our finalists and hope to see many of our graduates achieving similar success in the future”.
Trevor McSharry said the Carpentry and Joinery group at IT Sligo continues to have the strongest performance at the national skills competition.
He added: “The latest Ulster Bank Construction Report in January confirmed that the construction sector recovery is well underway with a strong expansion in activity and staffing levels over the last four months. This is leading to construction graduate shortages in many areas. As a result, more students are now considering courses in this growth area, which is forecasted to grow at least 10% each year until it reaches a sustainable level of activity, typically 12% of GDP.”
Dr Brendan Murphy, President CIT, presents Paul Hosty of IT Sligo with the Ireland Skills Joinery winner’s award at the national finals, held at Cork Institute of Technology. Also pictured are (l-r) Cllr. Noel O’Connor, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Catherine Clancy, Lord Mayor of Cork, Sean Sherlock, Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Innovation, Departments of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and Education & Skills and John Joe O Reilly, Lecturer I.T. Sligo and Ireland Skills Chief Joinery Expert.
Dave Treacy, Training Manager at John Sisk & Sons Ltd, presents Paul Hosty with the John Sisk Trophy at the Ireland Skills finals, held at Cork Institute of Technology. Also photographed are Cllr. Noel O’Connor , Mayor of the County of Cork, Dr Brendan Murphy, President (CIT), Cllr. Catherine Clancy, Lord Mayor of Cork, Sean Sherlock, Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Innovation, Departments of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and Education & Skills and John Joe O Reilly, Lecturer I.T. Sligo and Ireland Skills Chief Joinery Expert
IT Sligo finalists at the Irish Skills Competition are (l-r) David Sheehy, Diarmuid O Finneadha, Paul Hosty (Joinery Winner), Jamie Conlon and Aaron Pearson. With them is IT Sligo lecturer and Ireland Skills Chief Joinery Expert, John Joe O’Reilly.
Paul Hosty of IT Sligo, winner of the Ireland Skills 2014 Joiner award, with his girlfriend Shauna McGinty, his sister Mary, parents Mary and Thomas, and IT Sligo lecturer, John Joe O’Reilly, who is Ireland Skills Chief Joinery Expert,