GMIT Letterfrack hosting worldskills Ireland national competition
GMIT and WorldSkills Ireland are proud to announce that GMIT Letterfrack campus this week is hosting the National Competition (2021) Finals and the 2022 WorldSkills Shanghai Team Ireland Selection in Cabinetmaking and Carpentry, running from 21 to 25 March.
This is the first time the Cabinetmaking and Carpentry competition finals are being held at GMIT’s Connemara campus in Letterfrack, following from outstanding student achievement in previous competitions. Students from the campus have for many years won the WorldSkills Ireland National Competitions in Cabinetmaking and in more recent years have also won in Carpentry and Joinery. Along with success in the national competitions, GMIT students have consistently won Medallions for Excellence by representing Ireland in Cabinetmaking in the WorldSkills International Competitions held bi-annually. The re-scheduling of the 2021 competition finals, due to Covid-19, has coincided with the selection process to identify potential competitors for Team Ireland to compete in the WorldSkills international competitions in Shanghai, China next year (Oct 2022).
Six competitors are competing in both the Cabinetmaking and Carpentry finals and in the 2022 WorldSkills Selection process. The competitions promote and showcase the emerging skill and talent of young students and apprentices working or studying within the wood and construction industries in Ireland. The winners in each competition will be presented with a prestigious Silver Medal at an Award Ceremony in September.
Paul Leamy, Head of Centre, GMIT Letterfrack, says: “We are delighted to collaborate with WorldSkills Ireland in hosting this event. These competitions showcase the pinnacle of national talent in their respective categories and present the winners with the opportunity to compete on a world stage. It is a fantastic testament to the commitment and skill of staff involved in preparing our students to compete with the best in the world.“
About WorldSkills
WorldSkills Ireland is a partnership between enterprise, industry, education, training and government that raises the profile and recognition of skills and apprenticeships and prepares the talent of today for the careers of the future.
About GMIT Letterfrack
The GMIT campus at Letterfrack houses the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology, a department of the School of Design & Creative Arts. Honours degree programmes delivered on the Connemara campus include furniture design & manufacture, furniture making & architectural woodworking, as well as teacher education for Construction Studies and Design & Communication Graphics from the Department of Creative Education. The school also delivers teacher education programmes in Galway alongside a range of design and creative programmes from the Dept of Creative Arts & Media.
The school has well established relations with the Irish furniture and wood products industry and has links with colleges in Europe and the USA. In addition, it partners with a broad range of progressive and advanced furniture and wood manufacturing companies, located throughout the world, as part of a substantial work placement (internship) element of all industry programmes. Excellence is at the core of a student-centred approach to teaching and learning. Graduates attain a range of key skills linked to their programme choice and emphasis is placed on quality project-based learning. Graduates contribute to and influence the fields of furniture and wood product design, education, technology and manufacture in ways that are innovative, creative and responsive to the ongoing development of the Irish economy.
For more information go to www.gmit.ie/furniture-design-and-technolgy/gmit-letterfrack or www.facebook.com/OfficialGMITLetterfrack or tel. 091 742653.
New Atlantic Technological University
GMIT is merging with IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT on 01 April 2022 and will be known in future as Atlantic Technology University (ATU). The campus at Letterfrack, in the heart of Connemara, will continue to house the National Centre of Excellence in Furniture Design & Technology, and deliver its world-class suite of programmes.
ENDS
Galway-Mayo IT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT are working towards becoming a Technological University for the west and northwest of Ireland.
Issued by Regina Daly, GMIT Communications & Press Officer, Dublin Road, Galway.
Tel 091 742826/0879618455 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie
![<p>GMIT Letterfrack students training for the IrelandSkills Competitions in the Machine Hall facilities at GMIT Letterfrack. L to R: students Gary Sharkey, Keith Roberts, Tomas Rushe, Daniel Stratford, Matthew Shakespeare and Matilda Anderson. [Photo by Aoife Herriott Photography. No repro fee.]</p>](/system/files/styles/default/private/2022-03/GMIT-News-GMIT%20Letterfrack%20students%20training%20for%20the%20NationalSkills%2023.03.22_1.jpg?itok=DYrvrLSu)
Photo 1.
GMIT student Matilda Anderson, Lough Atalia Grove, Renmore, Galway city, competing in the 2021 WorldSkills Ireland National Competition Final in Carpentry, in GMIT Letterfrack this week.
Photo 2.
GMIT Letterfrack students training for the IrelandSkills Competitions in the Machine Hall facilities at GMIT Letterfrack.
L to R: students Gary Sharkey (Skill: Cabinetmaking), Ballaghaderreen, Co Sligo; Keith Roberts (Skill: Cabinetmaking), Ballyconneely, Clifden, Co Galway; Tomas Rushe (Skill: Joinery – Competition held in Sligo IT), Ballaghderreen, Co Mayo; Daniel Stratford (Skill: Cabinetmaking), Virginia, Co Cavan; Matthew Shakespeare (Skill: Carpentry), Foxrock Park, Dublin, and Matilda Anderson (Skill: Carpentry), Lough Atalia Grove, Renmore, Galway.
Also competing but not pictured Alexander O’Connor (Skill: Cabinetmaking), Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick and Ryan Carroll (Skill: Cabinetmaking), Stradone, Co Cavan. [Photo by Aoife Herriott Photography. No repro fee.]