Rose of Tralee Winner Inspires Women to Join Building Trades

Katelyn Cummins, crowned the 2025 Rose of Tralee, is breaking barriers and inspiring women to pursue careers in the construction industry. The 20-year-old apprentice electrician from Laois shared her experiences of facing gender discrimination while seeking employment. She revealed that many male employers dismissed her potential, claiming that the work was “too dirty” or “too labour-intensive” for a woman.

Over a four-month job search, Cummins encountered repeated rejections, with employers expressing doubts about her capability to handle physically demanding tasks. She noted, “It took me about four months to get a job because so many places that I did inquire about told me… she wouldn’t be able for it.” These experiences prompted her to highlight the challenges women face in entering a traditionally male-dominated field.

Gender Disparity in the Construction Sector

Despite ongoing initiatives to promote female participation in construction, women still represent only 9% of tradespeople in Ireland. This figure reflects a modest increase from 6% last year, according to statistics from the State training agency Solas and the Department of Higher Education. In 2018, the percentage was alarmingly low at just 2%, indicating a gradual but significant shift in the industry.

Cummins emphasized that societal attitudes contribute to the persistent gender imbalance. She believes that more information about alternative career pathways, such as apprenticeships, should be available to students in secondary schools. “There needs to be more talk about options in secondary school,” she stated. “Apprenticeship is amazing. Why is there so much of a stigma around going to college when it is incredibly difficult to get a job afterwards?”

The Department of Further and Higher Education has reported a 154% increase in female participation in craft apprenticeships over the past five years. Currently, there are 2,580 women registered as apprentices, a stark contrast to the 2% recorded in 2018. The substantial rise in registrations, particularly in fields like electrical work, reflects changing attitudes and increased awareness of apprenticeship opportunities.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Since her victory at the Rose of Tralee festival, Cummins has received a wave of messages from young women expressing their newfound motivation to enter trades. She shared, “The amount of girls… just texting me and being like, ‘you’ve inspired me,’… is just so heartwarming.” One girl even wrote to her, stating her intention to pursue a career as an electrician after completing her Leaving Cert.

Cummins views her role as a representative of women in construction as a positive message. “It’s great to see a young woman so excited about her career and future in construction,” remarked Seán Downey, Director of Safety, Education and Training at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). He commended Cummins for her decision to enter the construction sector and her ability to inspire others.

As Cummins prepares to return to her apprenticeship following her win, she looks forward to engaging in various events associated with the Rose of Tralee over the next year. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of resilience in the face of adversity and the power of representation in encouraging future generations of women to pursue their ambitions in the building trades.