National Skills Competition

Patrick J. Murphy, a second year Furniture Design and Manufacturing student, beat off stiff competition in a tightly fought final to win the National Skills Competition.

Patrick and two fellow students studying on the same course; Sean Costello, and Stephen Richardson, each obtained marks high enough in the preliminary stage of the competition to place them as one of eight finalists from all over Ireland. The 22 hour competition entailed making a free standing solid wood storage cabinet and was held in Dun Laoghaire.

“We are delighted with our students’ performance in this competition and are particularly thrilled that Patrick has won. It demonstrates very clearly the skill level attained by students undertaking GMIT Letterfrack programmes given the other finalists were apprentices working full time in industry,” commented GMIT lecturer Anthony Clare who prepared the students for the competition.

The Minister of Education will present the winners silver medal at a formal presentation later in the year.

GMIT Letterfrack students - Stephen Richardson, Patrick J. Murphy (Competition Winner) and Sean Costello

Following on from Patrick J. Murphy’s success at the National Skills Competition he has been chosen to participate in the Irish team to compete in the WorldSkills Competition.  This competition is held every two years with the next in November 2007 in Shizuoka, Japan.  Ireland has consistently preformed well in WorldSkills Competitions.