IT Sligo will have strong representation at the 2017 WorldSkills finals in Abu Dhabi, which run from October 15-19th.
Two of the Institute’s trained apprentices are part of the 14-strong Team Ireland which will compete at the world’s biggest professional education event over four intensive days of competition.
Micheál Flynn (Plastic Die Engineering) from Tourlestrane, County Sligo, and James McSwiney (Carpentry & Joinery) from Ardee, Co Louth have preparted for the 2017 WorldSkills with an intensive training programme over the past 10 weeks on the campus of IT Sligo.
Team Ireland comprises apprentices and trainees in everything from beauty therapy to aircraft maintenance.
They will among 1,200 competitors from around the globe. and will be hoping to bring Ireland’s haul of medals in 37 previous competitions over the 200 mark.
Dr Brendan McCormack, President of IT Sligo wishes Micheal Flynn well ahead of WorldSkills 2017.
The WorldSkills competition is held every two years, and Ireland was placed 11th out of 75 countries at the last event in Brazil. This year’s competitors were selected from winners of the National Skills Competition Finals last December and all are aged under 25.
The IT Sligo WorldSkills mentors (L-R): John Joe O’Reilly, Seán Dalton, Armin Philips, Noel Roberts, Peter Gillespie & Liam Cunningham
The IT Sligo delegation to Abu Dhabi will include Ireland’s Chief Joinery Expert, and Institute lecturer John Joe O’Reilly who has supervised James McSwiney’s prepartions over the past three months for the joinery final.
WorldSkills finalists Micheál Flynn, James McSwiney, the IT Sligo WorldSkills support team and Dr Brendan McCormack (President).