Young Meath artist on the road to WorldSkills Shanghai with Team Ireland

Ella Graham Harvey from Bohermeen is set to represent Ireland on the world stage this month after being selected to compete at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, often referred to as the ‘Skills Olympics’.

Taking place from 22nd to 27th September, WorldSkills Shanghai will bring together more than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions across 64 different skill areas.

Ella, who is 21 and who will compete in Beauty Therapy, is one of 16 young Irish competitors selected to represent Team Ireland at the prestigious international competition.

Before heading to China, Ella will also be among the Irish talent showcased at WorldSkills Ireland 2026, which returns to RDS Simmonscourt this week, from 16th to 18th September. For a select group of Ireland’s most talented young competitors, the RDS event marks another important milestone on their road to Shanghai.

This 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.

Speaking on the benefits of WorldSkills Ireland to her career, Ella said “This will be a huge benefit for me as I will be competing along side the best beauty therapists in the world and learning from the different cultures of beauty, which I will take along with me for the rest of my career”.

Passionate about beauty from a young age, Ella began taking beauty courses after secondary school before studying at Dunboyne College and competing in WorldSkills. For Ella 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 that choose the apprenticeship route to education and employment”.