Donegal welder to represent Ireland at WorldSkills Shanghai
The 21-year-old will compete at both WorldSkills Ireland and WorldSkills Shanghai this month.
Oisín Alexander from Killygordon will be representing Ireland at the WorldSkills Shanghai stage.
The 21-year-old was selected to be one of 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions across 64 different skill areas.
WorldSkills Shanghai, often referred to as the ‘Skills Olympics ’, will take place from September 22nd to 27th.
Oisín, who will compete in the Welding category, is one of 16 young Irish competitors selected to represent Team Ireland at the prestigious international competition.
Before heading to China, Oisín will also be among the Irish talent showcased at WorldSkills Ireland 2026, which returns to RDS Simmonscourt from September 16th to 18th. For a select group of Ireland’s most talented young competitors, the RDS event marks another important milestone on their road to Shanghai.
The three-day event at the RDS will bring together young people from across Ireland to experience the breadth of skills and career opportunities available through apprenticeships, further education and training. The event will feature 31 live national competition finals, alongside interactive Try-A-Skill areas, career and educator zones and inspirational talks.
Oisín discovered his talent after starting a basic welding course and developing his practical skills working on machinery, before being put forward for WorldSkills by his instructor.
For Oisín and those competing in Shanghai, the journey began long before stepping onto the international stage, with competitors undertaking intensive preparation and honing their skills against some of the best young talent in Ireland.
Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, said, “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”.
With WorldSkills Ireland taking place just days before the international competition, visitors to the RDS will have the opportunity to see Ireland’s future skilled workforce in action, discover different career pathways and get hands-on with a wide range of skills.
Michael Hourihan, WorldSkills Ireland Technical Delegate, said: “The event at the RDS showcases that the future can be very bright for those who choose the apprenticeship route to education and gainful employment”.