Chef Ireland Competitions

A team of three academic staff and ten students from LYIT School of Tourism saw their hard work, training and preparation for the national culinary competitions over the last number of weeks result in a record haul of awards at the Chef Ireland Competitions in Dublin, held on the 26 – 28 February 2019.

Tutored and mentored by a dedicated core team of Lecturers in Culinary Arts – Eddie McMenamin, Jonathan Sultan and Karl McNulty – the students performed in a variety of competitions including savoury lamb, beef, duck and fish; pastry and desserts, chocolates and butter sculpture resulting in medals for the following.

Speaking at the end of the three day event, competition coordinator Eddie McMenamin praised the students on their commitment, dedication and professionalism throughout the event.  “The students are under immense pressure during these competitions, particularly the open competitions where professional chefs from industry compete, but they rose to the challenge and we are proud of every one of the team.  They worked brilliantly individually, but also supported one another as a team.  We’d also like to thank all of the staff and students at the School of Tourism for their support before and during the competitions”.

The School of Tourism is particularly proud of Nuwan Herath, who came to the college from Sri Lanka only last October.  He has settled in wonderfully well, and it is clear that he brings his incredible artistic talents to his chocolate and butter work.  Nuwan was a member of a boyband in Sri Lanka, but also studied and worked in interior design for ten years. However, Nuwan discovered his passion for food when he undertook a diploma in bakery in Sri Lanka. When he decided to peruse this passion, he decided he wanted to study in an institute that was renowned for its culinary arts programmes. When asked how he ended up choosing the School of Tourism he stated “When I started researching where I should continue my studies, Killybegs came up again and again as the place to go in Ireland, it has a great reputation. The talent it produces can be seen with all the medals and awards the School of Tourism team has won this year at Chef Ireland”.

Katie McCloskey, a Killybegs native and in the second year of her Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts is another student who deserves special recognition. Her achievement of winning FSPA Food Hygiene Overall Competition Award Chef Ireland 2019 is a significant one. Katie was the best of all competitors over all three days of competitions, which included professionals and students. Elizabeth McKenzie Culinary Arts Lecturer and Institutes of Technology representatives on the National Hygiene Partnership Management Committee commented “In the LYIT School of Tourism we have an excellent relationship with the National Hygiene Partnership and the Environmental Health Association. Food safety is a key element of all our culinary and hospitality courses and Katie is an example of the high standards and professionalism that our students uphold.”

The Head of School of Tourism, Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, congratulated the team on their success.  “This team has maintained the highest of standards for which the college in Killybegs is renowned”, he stated.  “The performance this year is particularly important as we celebrate our 50th anniversary in Killybegs and these students have given us additional cause for celebration” he added.

Chef Ireland - The Irish Culinary Championships is co-ordinated by the Panel of Chefs of Ireland during CATEX which is the largest exhibition in Ireland for the hospitality sector.  This year the Panel of Chefs of Ireland celebrate their 60thAnniversary. Their mission is to promote quality and excellence in all activities related to the culinary arts, in particular the development of the craft in Ireland. This major culinary event affords our members and all chefs throughout Ireland the opportunity of displaying their exceptional culinary skills, creativity, innovation and techniques.

LYIT School of Tourism offers a wide variety of full and part-time programmes in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts.  Graduates of the programmes are highly sought after by the industry, both at home and abroad.