Ardee’s Emily Callaghan Wins Silver in Craft Butchery
By ArdeePost Reporter
Ardee native Emily Callaghan has carved out a major achievement by winning silver at the prestigious Ireland WorldSkills Craft Butchery Competition 2025, held this week at the RDS in Dublin.
Representing Callaghan’s Craft Butchers in Bettystown, Emily impressed the judges with her skill, precision, and creativity, securing second place in a competition that showcases the very best young butchers in the country.
Emily’s achievement is even more remarkable given that she is one of only a small number of women to have undertaken the National Craft Butchery Apprenticeship. Her success highlights both her talent and the growing role of women in a trade traditionally dominated by men.
The passion for butchery clearly runs in the family, with Emily following in the footsteps of her parents, Laura and Andrew Callaghan. That family dedication was evident in her performance, which combined technical excellence with the warmth and helpfulness for which Callaghan’s Craft Butchers is well known in the community.
Her silver medal win at the WorldSkills event now sets her on course for an even bigger challenge: representing Ireland at the international level next year, where she will compete for gold against the best in the world.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Emily and for craft butchery in Ireland,” said a spokesperson for the organisers. “Her success demonstrates the value of apprenticeship, passion for the trade, and the bright future of butchery in Ireland.”
For Emily, it’s the next step in what promises to be a remarkable career. With her combination of talent, determination, and community spirit, Ardee has every reason to be proud of its new silver medalist.