Laois Rose praised in Seanad Éireann

Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins has done more to promote apprenticeships than any Government programme, a Minister of State has said. 

The 2025 Rose of Tralee and Dancing with the Stars contestant joined Independent Senators Joe Conway and Aubrey McCarthy for a Seanad debate on Apprenticeships on Tuesday night.

The Laois Rose was also joined in Leinster House by Thurles man and owner of Alpha Drives, John Dwan. Katelyn is currently serving the second year of her apprenticeship with Alpha Drives. Her appearance alongside her boss at Leinster House added a spark to the event.

Seanad Cathaoirleach Mark Daly welcomed the visitors to the debate in the upper house. “The 2025 Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins, an apprentice electrician, is most welcome to Seanad Éireann, along with John Dwan, her apprentice supervisor and sponsor, and his wife Noreen, from County Laois, and Steve, director of operations for the Rose of Tralee Festival,” said Sen Daly. 

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education Marian Harkin said: “I welcome most sincerely our 2025 Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins, an electrical apprentice. I have met her before. She has done more for the promotion of apprenticeships than any Government programme or Ministers speaking about them because when people see what they can be they understand it could be for them. While Ms Cummins might never have thought this would happen, I want to thank her for that. It has made a real impression and difference and I know it will continue to do so.” 

Speaking in the Seanad, Independent Senator Joe Conway said, “we can advertise and promote apprenticeships at a great expense and at some length, but when it is actually fixed on a personage and a personality and someone who is in the limelight and conscious of positive images for young people…In the overall context of the number of apprenticeships, we do have a serious question to look in relation to the gender balance of apprenticeships and changing the mindset of the nation in terms of apprenticeships.”

Sen McCarthy was equally impressed with positive role model Katelyn Cummins has become for people considering apprenticeships.  “What I have seen through the social enterprise we set up is apprenticeships can turn people’s lives around and that can be for people who are marginalised, people who have struggled with education, unemployment, but it helps them to find their feet again with real structured training programmes…So I know with my own experience with apprenticeships that want to work that want to belong and that apprenticeships provide that pathway,” he said.

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Senator Cathal Byrne said:  “I acknowledge our guests in the Gallery, in particular the 2025 Rose of Tralee. She is most welcome here this evening. Her story serves as an inspiration for so many people across the country who are currently considering going down the apprenticeship route.”