A student from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT ) Letterfrack has won the Department of Education and Skills’ final of the national skills competition in cabinetmaking. Diarmaid Ó Conghaile from Dun Beag, Na Doireadh, Baile na hAbhann, Co na Gaillimhe, a second year student on the BSc in furniture design and manufacture in the Letterfrack campus, took the top prize at the recent event held in Dublin Institute of Technology. This builds upon similar success in this competition from students from the college in 2007, 2009, and 2010.
Two other students of GMIT Letterfrack, Anthony O’Neill from Carlow, and Donal Quinn from Kerry, also competed in the final.
Lecturer Anthony Clare, who prepared the students for the competition, says the standard in the final was exceptionally high and competitors particularly keen: “The test involved making a free-standing cabinet, with an integrated door and drawer. We are delighted with our students’ performance in this competition and are thrilled that Diarmaid has won. This achievement demonstrates clearly the exceptional skill level attained by students undertaking GMIT Letterfrack programmes, given the other finalists were apprentices working in the industry. GMIT Letterfrack prides itself on quality in all aspects of education, creativity, and craftsmanship and our students have demonstrated this once again on a national stage.
“In October this year the 41st world skills competition will take place in the Excel Centre in London and Diarmaid is eligible for selection for the Irish team being assembled to compete. To do so he requires sponsorship and we are seeking assistance from any interested party, body, industry or sector interested in promoting on a world stage the skills, knowledge, and expertise our young graduates can offer. Ireland has consistently performed well in world skills competitions, attaining second place in overall world rankings in the 2009 competitions.”
