Almost 4,000 female students from across Ireland and Northern Ireland will gather at the RDS in Dublin today for the I Wish Festival where teenage girls can explore future careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The event includes over 30 high-profile female speakers from STEM, sport and industry, as well interactive exhibitions.
A Construction Zone, delivered in partnership with the Construction Industry Federation, will provide hands-on demonstrations; insights into apprenticeships and engineering pathways; and direct engagement with women working across the sector.
"Construction has the lowest female representation of any sector in Ireland, at just over 10% overall, and only 1% on building sites," said I Wish co-founder Gillian Keating.
"Ireland urgently needs these skills, and we must work harder to encourage young women to consider construction pathways."
"Early exposure is critical. If girls don't see these careers as options in school, the talent pipeline simply won’t meet industry demand," Ms Keating said.
The 2025 I Wish survey of female students found that access to practical STEM subjects remains dramatically lower for girls in single-sex schools, with just 5% reporting access to construction studies and 6% to engineering, compared with 85% and 74% respectively in mixed schools, despite near-universal access to biology and chemistry.
"Year after year, students tell us they’re interested in STEM but don’t always see where it can lead," said I Wish co-founder Caroline O’Driscoll.
"I Wish exists to bridge that gap by connecting girls with real people, real careers and real opportunities," Ms O'Driscoll said.
