The days of feeling like you need to follow a very rigid career path, head straight to university or into the family business are becoming fewer and fewer in 2026.

As careers continue to evolve and new routes into work open up, WorldSkills Ireland aims to make those choices visible and palpable, bringing careers out of the imagination and into the real world.

From 16-18 September, the RDS Simmonscourt will once again become Ireland’s largest showcase of skills, apprenticeships and further education, with thousands of students getting the chance to try their hand at different skills, meet employers and see some of the country’s most talented young people compete.

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Across three days, 31 live national competition finals will put everything from traditional trades to emerging technologies into action, alongside Try-A-Skill areas, careers and educator zones and talks exploring the different routes now available to school leavers.

“Skills and apprenticeships are fundamental to Ireland’s future. They power our economy, strengthen industry and open doors to rewarding careers. WorldSkills Ireland shows young people that practical and technical skills are not a second choice; they are a first-choice route to success”, said Ray English, chair of WorldSkills Ireland.

This year there is an added international angle. Just days after the Dublin event finishes, 16 young competitors from Lahinch to Portrane will travel to China to represent Ireland at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. This is the world’s largest international vocational skills competition, where more than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions will compete across 64 skill areas.

Skills landscape

Team Ireland demonstrates just how broad the modern skills landscape has become.

Competitors include 22-year-old Kalem Redmond from Headford, Co Galway, who competes in Automobile Technology. Kalem started out working in a local tyre centre before taking up an apprenticeship and has since trained with Volkswagen Group Ireland and MG Ireland, as well as gaining competition experience in China.

From Bohermeen, Co Meath, 21-year-old Ella Graham Harvey will compete in Beauty Therapy. With an interest in beauty from a young age, Ella began taking courses after secondary school before studying at Dunboyne College.

Eoin Dalton, 22, from Lahinch, Co Clare, has taken a childhood love of woodworking all the way to international competition. As a teenager, he turned a shed at home into his own workshop; today, he is representing Ireland in cabinetmaking and has already competed internationally in Taiwan.

Cloud computing

Coming from a completely different direction is Ruán Murgatroyd, 23, from Portarlington, Co Laois, who will represent Ireland in cloud computing. Encouraged by his father to explore technology from an early age, Ruán has since tested his skills in competitions in Australia, Hungary, Korea and Ireland.

More than half (51%) of those attending WorldSkills Ireland last year were female, while the range of apprenticeships available to school leavers continues to grow

And from Killygordon, Co Donegal, 21-year-old Oisín Alexander is competing in welding. Oisín found his trade after leaving school and getting hands-on experience working with machinery. His ability was spotted by his instructor, who put him forward for WorldSkills – setting him on the road to representing Ireland on the world stage.

Excitingly, assumptions and perceptions around apprenticeships and skill-based careers are changing. More than half (51%) of those attending WorldSkills Ireland last year were female, while the range of apprenticeships available to school leavers continues to grow.

For students still pondering their options, the message from WorldSkills Ireland is think outside the lines, there are a huge number of opportunities and possibilities out there.