Kildare native awarded top accolade at National Apprentice of the Year Awards 2026
28-year-old Kyran Brady was selected as one of just 17 award winners from 508 nominees nationwide
A County Kildare native has scooped up a prestigious accolade at the latest iteration of the National Apprentice of the Year Awards.
Kyran Brady, a 28-year-old Lean Sigma Manager apprentice graduate from Newbridge, was selected as one of just 17 award winners from 508 nominees nationwide.
He celebrated his achievement at a large ceremony which was held in the RDS in County Dublin.
‘VERY PROUD’
Mr Brady won the Apprentice of the Year Award (Engineering) award after completing the Lean Sigma Manager apprenticeship with Amazon Ireland in Dublin, where he now works as an Operations Manager.
Apprentices can be nominated by employers, training providers or anyone who knows an apprentice well, while nominees are judged on their skills and qualities in areas including leadership, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.
Speaking about his win, Mr Brady revealed that he was ‘delighted’ and ‘very proud’ to receive the award.
“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,” he added. “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.”
Mr Brady also said: “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.”
Moreover, the Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin TD (Independent), presented all 17 awards, which included the overall Apprentice of the Year award to Sapna Sian, a Manufacturing Technology apprentice with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care in County Limerick.
She also expressed support for Mr Brady’s achievement: “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,” Minister Harkin added.
Further information about the National Apprentice of the Year Awards and the 89 national apprenticeships that are available can be viewed on www.apprenticeship.ie.
The National Apprentice of the Year Awards are overseen by SOLAS, which is the Further Education and Training Authority of Ireland.