Kildare apprentice graduate wins national award
Kyran Bray from Newbridge, who recently won at the National Apprentice of the Year Awards.
KYRAN Brady, a 28-year-old Lean Sigma Manager apprentice graduate from Newbridge has won the at Ireland’s National Apprentice of the Year Awards 2026 ceremony.
The former Patrician Secondary School student was selected as one of just 17 award winners from 508 nominees nationwide, winning a top award after completing the Lean Sigma Manager apprenticeship with Amazon Ireland in Dublin where he now works as an Operations Manager.
The award was presented at a ceremony in the RDS, Dublin, attended by more than 500 guests.
Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Marian Harkin TD presented 17 awards, including the overall Apprentice of the Year award to Sapna Sian, a Manufacturing Technology apprentice with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care in Limerick.
“I am delighted and very proud to receive this national Apprentice of the Year Industry Award in Engineering,” said Kyran Brady, winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award (Engineering).
"I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the Lean Sigma Manager apprenticeship, working with Amazon Ireland, and it is an absolute honour to win this award. I am grateful to my colleagues in Amazon Ireland for all the support I received over the course of the apprenticeship, and grateful for the valuable learning and career opportunities this apprenticeship gave me, where I could really apply my learnings in a real working environment.
“Apprenticeships offer a powerful route for anyone looking to build a rewarding future career to fulfil their potential, and this award is a great example of what can be achieved along the way.”
Speaking at the awards event, Minister Harkin said: “Apprentices are at the heart of Ireland’s skilled workforce. I wish to congratulate Kyran on his incredible achievement, along with all 508 nominees.Their talent, commitment and skills are helping to shape Ireland’s future workforce.”
Hazel Johnston, the 2023 National Apprentice of the Year and a graduate of the Manufacturing Engineering apprenticeship, was presented with a ‘2026 Facts, Faces, Futures Outstanding Ambassador’ Award, recognising her contribution to raising awareness of apprenticeship as a career pathway for women.”
Overseen by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority of Ireland, the National Apprentice of the Year Awards celebrates the finest talent across the apprenticeship system in Ireland who are building successful and rewarding career with apprenticeships.
Apprentices can be nominated by employers, training providers or anyone who knows an apprentice well.
Nominees are judged on their skills and qualities in areas including leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.
