Laois man drives home national apprenticeship award
A Laois man has won an ‘Apprentice of the Year’ 2023 category award.
Portarlington’s Ronan Dunne, an employee of local company Polar Ice, has scooped the highly coveted ‘Apprentice of the Year’ category award at the 2023 national awards ceremony held in The Mansion House, Dublin.
Driving it home to Laois: Ronan Dunne.
Ronan was one of 14 finalists who won a prestigious award, out of a record 222 exceptional nominees put forward for a 2023 ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award from across every county in Ireland. Full list of winners below.
Ronan is a proud Portarlington man, building skills and a rewarding career as a Transport Operations and Commercial Driving apprentice with Polar Ice Ltd based in Portarlington, County Offaly.
"I'm a full-time HGV driver with Polar Ice. I'm so passionate about logistics and I enjoy the diverse challenges and opportunities that the apprenticeship journey offers. I am delighted to win this special award,” he said.
Polar Ice Ltd said of Ronan’s win:
“We are thrilled to announce that Ronan Dunne of Polar Ice Ltd, was a category award winner at the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ Awards.
“Ronan's quick thinking and problem-solving abilities are a testament to his innate talent as an apprentice. His keen eye for identifying opportunities, combined with his swift decision-making skills, demonstrates his capacity to think critically and find innovative solutions in his work.
“We are exceptionally proud of all of his hard work and dedication in both his coursework as he progresses through Year 2 of his apprenticeship and as a Heavy Goods Vehicle driver for Polar Ice,” they said.
The diverse apprenticeships recognised came from leading industries representing Hospitality, Food and Healthcare, Hairdressing, Finance and Insurance, ICT, Property Services, Recruitment and Sales, Manufacturing Engineering, Biopharma, Logistics and Motor, Electrical and Construction.
Hazel Johnston, Manufacturing Engineering apprentice with DePuy Synthes took home the second-ever national title at the independently judged Generation Apprenticeship awards, standing as the first-ever female winner of the highly-coveted ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award.
Pat O’Doherty Chairperson of the National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA) announced the overall ‘Apprentice of the Year’ and presented 14 exceptional finalists with a prestigious award in front of a gathering of 500 guests in the Round Room.
Dr Mary Liz Trant is Director of the National Apprenticeship Office.
”The NAO was delighted to present the national ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award for 2023 to Hazel Johnson and 14 exceptional finalists including Ronan Dunne, from a 26,000-strong Generation Apprenticeship community of dedicated apprentices. Apprentices are transforming the landscape of Ireland’s skilled workforce, bringing exceptional creativity and innovation, adaptability, leadership, fresh perspectives and a steadfast eagerness to learn that makes them valuable additions to any industry or workforce,” she said.
Minister Simon Harris TD congratulated Ronan and all the winners.
Pictured at the Apprentice of the Year awards are Pat O’Doherty, NAA Chair, Property category award winner Ronan Dunne (Polar Ice) & NAO Director Dr Mary Liz Trant
The 14 category award winners for 2023 are;
Grace Nagle, Commis Chef apprentice with University Hospital Tipperary (HSE Southeast); Paul King, ICT apprentice with Google Ireland; Laoibhse O Malley, hairdressing apprentice with Bridget Haren Hair and Beauty, County Clare;
Leah Carrol Byrne, hairdressing apprentice with Vanilla Hair Design, County Carlow; Lisa O’Sullivan, Auctioneering & Property Services apprentice with DNG Ella Dunphy, County Kilkenny; Shakeel Jeeroburkan, Finance apprentice with Fidelity International, Dublin; Ronan Dunne, transport operations and commercial driving apprentice with Polar Ice Ltd, County Offaly;
Kelsey McGahan, logistics apprentice with Joe McGovern Transport, County Leitrim; Kerrie Anne Fitzgerald, electrical apprentice with Freefoam Building Products, County Cork; Gary Whelan, electrical instrumentation apprentice with Diageo Ireland, Dublin; Glenn Dermody, electronic security systems apprentice with Xenon Building Technology, County Carlow;
Nicholas Davis, electrical apprentice with ESB Networks, County Cork; Jamie Bermingham, plumbing apprentice with Jones Engineering (H A O Neill), County Dublin; Hazel Johnston, Manufacturing Engineering apprentice with DePuy Synthes, County Cork.