Hello, my name is Lukas Stöhr. I am 18 years old and currently in the second year of my apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at Wölfle GmbH. My goal is to successfully complete my apprenticeship while gaining as much practical experience as possible. I am not yet entirely sure what my career path will look like after that, but one thing is certain: I remain open to new opportunities and am excited about what the future holds.
A real highlight of my apprenticeship was the international internship in Ireland in 2025. Three and a half weeks full of new impressions, experiences, and encounters that will certainly stay with me for a long time.
Arriving and Settling in Ireland
Our journey began in Memmingen, where the entire group met in full for the first time. After a flight of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, we arrived in Dublin. From there, we continued by bus for another 1.5 hours inland to Athlone.
In Athlone, I was picked up by my host family, a warm and welcoming couple named Tina and Tommy. I felt very comfortable from the very first moment and was warmly welcomed.
The next morning, we met for the first time at the Shannon Academy. Our teacher, Cathal, introduced himself, and we immediately began with a short introduction session. In total, we completed around 30 hours of lessons, which were very individual and varied, including walks through Athlone, historical insights, and even a joint cinema visit.
Working Life in Ireland
After the lessons, our teacher took us to our workplaces every day. I completed my internship at a small outdoor sports shop with a café called Booley.
My tasks there were very diverse:
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Preparing and serving coffee
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Washing dishes
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Advising customers on clothing purchases
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Organizing and restocking the warehouse
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Attaching security tags to new products
A particularly nice detail was that the shop was pet-friendly. Many customers brought their dogs with them, and even one employee regularly brought his dog to work.
After work, we often met again at the academy and ended the day together in a pub. During the week, the routine was fairly consistent: lessons and work. The weekends, however, were a new adventure every time.
First Weekend – Exploring Dublin
Together with a Spanish class, we went on a day trip to Dublin. On the way, we even went ice skating. In the city, we received a guided tour and saw landmarks such as Trinity College, the Ha’penny Bridge, and The Spire. Afterwards, we had some free time to explore the city on our own.
Second Weekend – Guinness and City Life
This time, the entire group spent the weekend in Dublin again, traveling by train. A special highlight was the visit to the Guinness Storehouse. I was particularly impressed by the history, the scale, and the effort behind the production process. Of course, there was also time to buy some souvenirs before we ended the evening together.
Third Weekend – Nature at Its Best
On the final weekend, we took a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and then continued on to Galway. Despite the short stay, the cliffs were absolutely impressive. We were lucky with the weather: hardly any wind, no rain, and a fantastic view. In Galway, we explored the city, went out to eat, and visited the Christmas market.
Conclusion: Experiences for Life
The people in Ireland are incredibly hospitable. Whether at work or in a pub, it is easy to start conversations and feel welcome. The weather was typically Irish and changed very spontaneously, but overall, we were surprisingly lucky.
Finally, I would like to extend a special thank you to our teacher, Cathal. Through his humor, excellent support, and insider tips, we were able to experience places that regular tourists would never get to see.
This international internship was a valuable personal and professional experience for me and another great example of the opportunities that an apprenticeship at Wölfle can offer.
