Holly Byrne Nugent

Holly Byrne Nugent is 22 years old — nearly 23 — and if someone had told her five years ago that she’d be working in a data centre as an apprentice electrician, she would have laughed. Back then, she was set on a future in computer science, with only that listed on her CAO application.

College was never something Holly felt strongly about, but like many others, she applied anyway. The summer between her Leaving Cert and starting college was filled with uncertainty and stress. On a whim, she enrolled in a PLC in Network Technology at the Liberties. While it’s not the path she ultimately followed, it turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made — it helped her realise what she didn’t want to do, even though she had a genuine interest in the field.

After completing the PLC, Holly took a year to work full-time and figure things out. She had started working at McDonald’s at 16 and had worked her way up to manager by 19 — an achievement she’s proud of, even though she knew it wasn’t her long-term goal.

Apprenticeships had always intrigued her, but she was initially discouraged because of her gender. Looking back, she sees that hesitation as unfounded — choosing an apprenticeship was the best decision she’s ever made. Holly wanted to help other young people, especially girls, better understand apprenticeship programmes, which led her to start sharing her journey on TikTok. Since then, countless opportunities have come her way.

Her message is clear: gender should never define what someone can do. Holly believes girls should be encouraged to pursue apprenticeships, which offer a powerful blend of hands-on experience and theoretical learning.

Her own apprenticeship is unique — she works in a data centre, handling large switchgear and industrial maintenance. The role allows her to tap into her love for computer science while training as an electrician, making it the perfect fit.

Outside of work, Holly is passionate about music. She taught herself guitar during TY and has spent countless hours learning songs — much to the amusement (and occasional annoyance) of her family. She also loves the outdoors, especially sea swimming and hiking. During Phase 4, she spent a lot of time exploring the hills and trails of Donegal.