Mayo student honoured at ATU WorldSkills celebration
Gavin Hopkins (third from left) is pictured with his fellow competitors, staff from Atlantic Technological University and Minister of State Marian Harkin at the prize presentation ceremony.
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 TD, 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. Gavin was supported throughout his WorldSkills journey by Westport employer Danny Maloney of Owenwee, a long-standing advocate for cultivating young talent in the trades.
Regarded as one of the most rigorous assessments of craft training in Ireland, the competition evaluates entrants 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 Gavin and his fellow competitors, noting: "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, its being 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."
