Ardee Engineer Wins National WorldSkills Gold for DkIT
By ArdeePost Reporter
Ardee native and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) graduate, Leah Glass, has claimed the Digital Infrastructure Design title at WorldSkills Ireland 2025, standing out as one of the brightest young engineers in the country.
The 23-year-old civil engineering graduate from Ardee overcame stiff competition from finalists representing Sligo and Galway to capture the coveted national title. The event, held at Dublin’s RDS, drew nearly 30,000 visitors and featured over 180 finalists competing across 35 disciplines, showcasing the best of Ireland’s emerging technical and creative talent.
Digital Infrastructure Design — the category won by Leah — focuses on the systems and networks that form the backbone of modern information technology. Competitors were tested on designing secure, scalable, and efficient digital systems that power industries and connect communities.
Reflecting on her achievement, Leah said she was “in pure shock” when her name was announced:
“I honestly couldn’t believe it. I’m so proud of myself for putting in the work, and I was honoured to compete with three amazing competitors who really gave me a run for my money!”
Now working as a graduate engineer with Glanua, a leading water and wastewater design specialist, Leah is currently contributing to upgrades at a wastewater treatment plant — an experience she describes as “seeing engineering come to life.”
Her WorldSkills journey began in 2024 after lecturer Donal McMorland encouraged her and her classmates to take part. Though she reached the final that year, Leah’s determination to improve drove her to compete again in 2025 — and this time, to win it all.
“I learned so much the first time around,” she said. “It was tough — a lot of late nights and long study sessions — but I’ve proven that hard work really does pay off.”
The three-day competition challenged participants with both theoretical and practical tasks — from road design and drainage modelling to earthwork calculations and clash detection. Leah’s strong foundation from DkIT gave her an edge, but she still dedicated countless extra hours to mastering new software and techniques.
“I had a foundation in Civil 3D from college,” Leah explained, “but I taught myself AutoCAD’s Storm and Sanitary Analysis and Navisworks through online tutorials and endless YouTube sessions. The amount of quality material out there is unbelievable!”
Leah credited her mentors and support team for their encouragement throughout the process, especially lecturer Donal McMorland and examiner Tommy Coyne, whose guidance kept her motivated.
Being the only woman in her competition didn’t faze Leah either.
“You’re not treated any differently,” she said. “Everyone wants you to succeed. You’ve worked just as hard as anyone else, so I never shy away from being one of the few women in the room.”
Her success at WorldSkills Ireland has bolstered both her technical skills and confidence, and she hopes to inspire more young engineers — especially women — to take on new challenges.
“It takes dedication, but you learn so much — win or lose,” she added. “Putting yourself out of your comfort zone pushes you forward. Meeting new people, learning new software, and being part of WorldSkills Ireland is an experience I’ll never forget.”
As Leah continues her engineering career with Glanua, she stands as a shining example of Ardee’s talent, DkIT’s excellence, and Ireland’s next generation of innovators.