Ennis man, Kevin Clohessy, Electrical apprentice at Kirby Group has been awarded a national Apprentice of the Year award at a recent event in Dublin’s Mansion House.
The Ennis man’s win has put a strong spotlight on County Clare talent, with Kevin Clohessy selected as one of 12 award winners to win a prestigious ‘Apprentice of the Year’ Industry Award from over 330 nominations nationwide.
Coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Office, the awards are now in their fourth year. The nominated apprentices represent exceptional talent and skills from the four corners of Ireland, across 78 apprenticeship programmes. The awards spotlight the vital economic and social contribution of the 30,000 apprentices currently training in Ireland. Leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills are at the heart of apprentices’ skillset and career success.
Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin TD presented the overall ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award to County Offaly’s David Wren, a Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitter – MAMF apprentice with Novo Nordisk, and presented the Award to County Clare’s Kevin Clohessy, and 11 other exceptional finalists.
Presenting the awards, Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin, said: “The 330 plus outstanding apprentices nominated for an Apprentice of the Year Award this year demonstrate the enormous wealth of talent we have in this country. I wish to offer Kevin Clohessy, Electrical winner, my heartfelt congratulations, and to each and every apprentice on their fantastic achievement.”
Dr. Mary-Liz Trant, Executive Director at SOLAS added: “Apprentices are at the forefront of skills development in Ireland, providing superb talent and innovation in businesses across the country. These awards celebrate the nominees and showcase the exciting career opportunities that national apprenticeships provide for people of all ages and backgrounds.”
Winner of the Apprenticeship Electrical Award, Kevin Clohessy, said: “To be chosen for the Electrical Award is truly special. My heartfelt thanks to the entire Kirby Group team for their constant support. I am proud of how far I’ve come and delighted to bring this award back to County Clare. This moment will stay with me as a highlight of my career.”
Ireland’s International Rose of Tralee 2025 and electrical apprentice, Katelyn Cummins was a special guest on the night, with Katelyn awarded the ‘Outstanding Ambassador’ Award, in recognition of her role to raise the profile of apprenticeship careers in Ireland, and in particular as a valued and exciting career path for women.
The National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) oversees the national apprenticeship system on behalf of Government and is supported by SOLAS, the national further education and training (FET) authority, in the delivery of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. Apprenticeships are now considered a major route to skills development in Ireland and the strategic promotion of the national apprenticeship system is coordinated under the banner of ‘Generation Apprenticeship’ by the NAO. Find out more at www.apprenticeship.ie.
The #GenerationApprenticeship Apprentice of the Year Awards 2025 are an independently judged competition which celebrate the finest talent in the apprenticeship system around Ireland, overseen by the National Apprenticeship Office. Apprentices were nominated by their employer or training provider and judged on their outstanding skills and qualities in leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.
About Apprenticeships
There are now 30,000 apprentices training in Ireland across 78 diverse Generation Apprenticeship programmes, with 10,000 employers driving opportunity with apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship pathways now offer qualifications from a NFQ level 5 certificate level to Level 10 Phd across 78 programmes including a whole host of new apprenticeships with exciting employers coming on stream all of the time.
Generation Apprenticeship programmes have broadened from craft and construction-led apprenticeships into diverse, cutting-edge industries such as ICT, biopharma, insurance, recruitment, real estate, sales and many more industries.
Most recently, a number of apprenticeships have been launched including Digital Marketing, Social Work, Farm Management, Horticulture, Civil Engineering and Accounting Technologist.
