Castlebar mans role in Irish teams success in Brazil

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has recognised the brilliant achievement of the Irish Team at the 43rd WorldSkills Competition in Brazil.

He met the team, which included Castlebar native Pat Noonan, at government buildings. Pat, a native of Rathbawn Road, was the team’s Irish carpentry expert.

The Irish team of 14 young apprentices, trainees and students won two gold medals, eight medallions of excellence and collectively secured an 11th place world ranking for Ireland against 60 other countries.

One of the 14 apprentices was Ballina native Jonathan Flynn, who works for Tim Kelly in Ballinrobe. Jonathan won a medallion of excellence in plumbing and heating at the 43rd WorldSkills.

Gold medals were won in restaurant service and in aircraft maintenance, while Ireland became the only country to win a gold medal in aircraft maintenance four consecutive times.

In addition to plumbing and heating, the medallions of excellence were awarded for beauty therapy, electrical installation, joinery, cabinet making, automobile technology, plastering and dry wall, and construction metal work.