Donegal apprentice Seoirse Ellison wins national carpentry title at WorldSkills Ireland 2026

Seoirse Ellison of Dunkineely has been crowned national champion in carpentry at WorldSkills Ireland 2026.

The competition was held from Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th September 2026 at the RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin, bringing together apprentices and learners from across the country to compete in industry‑focused challenges.

Ellison, who completed his apprenticeship with Mooney Boats in Killybegs, was one of five Atlantic Technological University (ATU) students and apprentices to secure national titles at the event.

Other ATU winners included Eoghan Tuttlebee from Bundoran in Carpentry and Matthew Shovlin from Dunkineely in Automobile Technology, highlighting strong representation from Donegal.

Professor Graham Heaslip, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at ATU, praised the achievements of the five winners and the 26 ATU competitors, noting the importance of apprenticeship and skills programmes for the region’s industries.

ATU continues to collaborate with employers and industry partners to provide apprenticeship pathways that equip learners with practical skills, technical knowledge and workplace experience.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Evangelia Kalan / Pexels.