Historic win for GMIT Letterfrack student in IrelandSkills

Cian Mulligan from Rathcoole, Co Dublin, made history on 9 December, 2016, by becoming the first student to hold three IrelandSkills titles in Carpentry, Joinery and Cabinetmaking. A total of seven GMIT Letterfrack students competed in three finals, two of whom won awards, affirming GMIT Letterfrack’s position as the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design & Technology.

Cian picked up his third award winning the Carpentry final and Sean Hogan from Dunmore East in Co Waterford won in the Cabinetmaking competition. Both students are studying on the B.Sc. (Hons) in Furniture and Wood Technology.

Also competing in the Cabinetmaking final were Matthew Howard from the Curragh in Co Kildare (B.Sc. in Furniture and Wood Technology) and Cian Geraghty from An Spideal, Co Galway (B.Sc. in Furniture Design and Manufacture).

Competing in the Carpentry final were students Jack Byrne from Tinahely, Co Wicklow and Thomas White from Dundalk, Co Louth, both studying B.Sc. (Hons) in Education -Design Graphics and Construction,  and competing in the Joinery final was Andrew Bailey from Durrow, Co Laois (B.Sc. (Hons) in Furniture and Wood Technology).

All competitors for the finals were selected from the preliminary stage of the competitions. In the wood skill areas of the relandSkillsNational Competition, competitors work from a detailed set of drawings to set out and make an intricate piece of work within a maximum time limit of 18 hours. In the Cabinetmaking competition this was a free standing cabinet incorporating a drawer and door, in Carpentry a complex roof with a dormer window was constructed and in Joinery a gothic arched door with curved glazing bars was made. The finals themselves were extremely intense and competitive and students were pushed to the limit of their abilities.

Cian Mulligan, picked up the Carpentry title to add to titles in Cabinetmaking and Joinery which he won in previous competitions. Cian also went on to represent Ireland in the World Skills competition in São Paulo in 2015 where he was ranked 6th in the world and received a coveted Medallion of Excellence. Sean Hogan’s success in the Cabinetmaking competition delivered a ninth consecutive title to a student of GMIT Letterfrack, a remarkable achievement for any Institute of Technology.

Anthony Clare, IrelandSkills Co-ordinator for GMIT Letterfrack, says each competition was very demanding and drew on all of the competitors’ skill and stamina. “To make the assignment in each skill area required considerable skill to combine planning, making and time management.  This was the first time that GMIT Letterfrack students have competed in all three wood skill areas of the IrelandSkills National Competitions and I am thrilled with this success.  On behalf of the students, staff and graduates of GMIT Letterfrack I wish to congratulate all of the competing students and particularly our two IrelandSkills winners. This is a real team event and lecturers Sean Treacy and Paul Leamy and technicians Martin Kearney and Daniel Collins were hugely supportive and influential in preparing the students for these competitions.  Finally, I want to congratulate and highlight the astonishing achievement of Cian Mulligan who has now won all three wood skill areas of the IrelandSkills National Competitions, a first in the 60 years of these competition finals, this is an incredible achievement”, added Mr. Clare.

Dermot O’Donovan, Head of Department, GMIT Letterfrack, says: “This completion is a fantastic learning experience for students, requiring them to go outside their comfort zones and to benchmark themselves nationally against other students and apprentices. The degree of problem-solving involved in the projects and the skills and quality displayed by our students is really extraordinary and demonstrates the skill level attained by students across all programmes in GMIT Letterfrack. We are really proud of each of their achievements and in particular to the two winners, Cian and Sean. The fact that Cian has won three titles is just amazing and would not have been possible without the mentoring and support from Anthony Clare and his team.”

GMIT Letterfrack is the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology. GMIT Letterfrack students’ success in both national and international competitions underlies the excellence of standards in teaching and learning at the campus which has approximately 200 students registered on degree and honours degree programmes in Furniture & Wood Technology, Furniture Design & Manufacture and in Teacher Education. The college has strong links with industry with all students offered placements both in Ireland and overseas as part of their programmes. 
 
For more information go to http://www.gmit.ie/Life-at-GMIT/letterfrack or www.facebook.com/OfficialGMITLetterfrack or tel. 091 742653.