Mayo man honoured at ATU WorldSkills carpentry celebration
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) hosted a special event this week to honour students who represented ATU Sligo at the WorldSkills Ireland carpentry finals.
The ceremony – attended by family, employers, staff and students – saw Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin, presenting the awards.
Among the celebrated participants was Gavin Hopkins from Shanvallybeg, Drummin, Westport, whose exceptional carpentry skills earned him a place among the country’s top apprentices. He was supported throughout his WorldSkills journey by Westport employer Danny Maloney of Owenwee, a long-standing advocate for cultivating young talent in the trades.
The competition, regarded as one of the most rigorous assessments of craft training in Ireland, evaluates competitors on precision workmanship, technical drawing interpretation, and advanced carpentry methods. This year’s test piece, described as one of the most challenging in recent years, placed strong emphasis on geometric accuracy and complex timber structures.
ATU Sligo lecturer and WorldSkills carpentry expert Patrick McElwee praised the dedication shown by Hopkins and his fellow competitors. He noted: “I couldn’t be any more proud of the competitors for their work rate and dedication. This year’s final test piece was challenging, to say the least, containing various types of incline, raking and crossing rafters which all had to be developed first, testing the geometric ability of each competitor.
“It has been a great year for the college to have four competitors qualifying for the final in carpentry, and to come away with the winner and three placed is extremely pleasing.”
Padraig McGarry, heead of the Department of Engineering Technology at ATU Sligo, added: “I am very proud of the long tradition we have competing in the WorldSkills competition, both nationally and internationally. It is a huge endorsement of the teaching and technical standards at ATU Sligo to produce three national champions in the same year, in the skills of electrical installations, carpentry and joinery.
“Well done to all our contestants. We hope this will inspire all groups of apprentices coming through the college to reach for the stars.”
Mayo continues to build a strong reputation for high-quality apprenticeship training, and Hopkins’ achievement further highlights the county’s rising profile in national skills competitions.