TU Dublin Welcomes Back WorldSkills Gold Medal Winner
TU Dublin recently celebrated the return of Tom O’Brien, a distinguished graduate and two-time WorldSkills Gold Medal winner. Tom, who attended Bolton Street as an apprentice in the 1960s, made history by winning Gold medals in the Junior category in 1963 and the Senior category in 1966 in Utrecht, Belgium. During his apprenticeship from 1961 to 1966, Tom worked at Collen, a renowned construction company.
Reflecting on his journey, Tom shared invaluable advice with current students:
Be dedicated to what you’re doing. It is a great skill. Be competitive, always want to be the best. Try to be the best, you can do it but you can’t do it by being lazy or sitting back. You can only do it if you want to achieve the top spot and be the number one. Not everybody can be, but you must give it a good shot. Dream the dream and go for it
Tom fondly remembered his time at Bolton Street, expressing gratitude to his lecturers and recalling the competitive spirit among his classmates. In recognition of his achievements, Ray English presented Tom with a memorial plaque and a framed certificate from WorldSkills International. A copy of Tom’s 1963 medal was cast and mounted, now proudly displayed in the awards cabinet at Bolton Street.
Tom was joined by his family, his wife Monica, daughter Niamh, son-in-law Michael Flatley and grandson Michael.
The WorldSkills Competition, a global event celebrating excellence in vocational skills, has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many young professionals. Held biennially, it brings together apprentices from around the world to compete in various skill categories, fostering international cooperation and showcasing their talents.
TU Dublin has been a strong advocate for these competitions, particularly excelling in the Cloud Computing category. The university’s commitment to nurturing skilled professionals underscores its pivotal role in advancing education and industry standards. Through its active participation in WorldSkills, TU Dublin continues to inspire and empower the next generation of skilled professionals