Louth beauty therapist wins silver at WorldSkills Ireland

Louth beauty therapist Emma Marron won a prestigious silver medal award at WorldSkills Ireland 2026, held at the RDS in Dublin, recently. Emma, from Haggardstown, Dundalk had been nominated for the competition by Dublin College Blackrock, where she had studied. After completing the two-year course there, Emma is now working in Image Beauty Salon, Clanbrassil Centre, Dundalk. A past-pupil of St Vincent's Secondary School, Emma says she initially went to study another discipline in Belfast but then moved to beauty therapy instead. 'From the minute I started it I loved it,' she says. Emma's passion for the beauty industry resulted in her being nominated for the WorldSkills Ireland 2026 which brought together talented students and apprentices from across Ireland to demonstrate their practical skills and knowledge. 'The competition was held over three days in the RDS,' says Emma. 'I had to do facials, pedicures, a full body massage, LVLs, brow laminations and manicures.' The third day saw the competitors challenged to respond to a theme for creative make-up and nails. Emma's response to the brief saw her taking first place and winning a silver medal with a chance of representing Ireland in the WorldSkills finals in Shanghai in 2028. 'There is another Irish competition next year and I will then have to compete with the 2027 winner to see who goes forward to represent Ireland.' Emma's cousin Keegan O'Donoghue was her model for the three days of the competition and her mother travelled to the RDS to support her each day. Her father Conor, sister Jade and boyfriend Killian were there to cheer her on on the final day.