Michelin Star Chef predicts bright future for student culinary stars at Shannon Region Junior Chef of the Year 2024

Pictured Shannon Region Junior Chef of the Year 2024 winner Ailey Lyons from Coláiste Íde agus Iosef in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, with fellow finalist students, David Omielianowicz from Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton, Joe Minihan from Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, and Katie Keogh, Mungret Community College. The competition, now in its fourth year, is organised by Limerick and Clare ETB’s College of FET Hospitality Campus. Pic. Brian Arthur  

The 2024 Shannon Region Junior Chef of the Year took place on Tuesday 16th of April at the Limerick Strand Hotel

The exciting competition is the pinnacle of an intensive 6-month Transition Year taster initiative led by a team of professional executive chefs from Limerick and Clare ETB’s College of Further Education and Training, Hospitality Campus.

Ailey Lyons, a TY student from Coláiste Íde agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale was announced as the overall competition winner and received the 1st Place Gold Medal.  Speaking about being crowned this year’s Shannon Region Junior Chef of the Year she said: “I feel excited and proud and I’d like to thank my family, my school, and mentor chef Tom Flavin for all their support. To anyone who is thinking of doing this course I’d say just go for it, put in your best effort and it will all come good in the end.”

300 Transition Year students from schools across the Limerick and Clare region participated in culinary and barista skills hospitality taster courses, with four students chosen to represent their school in a 2-hour live culinary grand final. Students used fresh local produce to create a main course and dessert.

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Executive Chefs Tom Flavin, Diarmuid O’Callaghan and Carol Dollery from the College of FET Hospitality Campus acted as mentors for the finalists, guiding them through their menu choices in the build-up to the event and helping them prepare for the final; with advice on timings and the best ingredients and techniques to use for each dish.

The competition continues to be significantly supported by the tourism and hospitality sector, including the Panel of Chefs of Ireland, the World Association of Chefs Societies, Euro-Toques Ireland. One of the judges was Michelin Star Chef Stefan Matz, who is Group Executive Chef with Cliste Hospitality and iNua Collection.

He was very enthusiastic about the level of expertise shown at this year’s event, “It’s fantastic and so encouraging to see what these four contestants have produced in this competition. It really is incredible and they surpassed all our expectations. They showed passion and great skill and knowledge about food which is a credit to them and the Hospitality Campus, because if this is what they’ve learned in such a short time, the future is bright for them and for the Irish food culture.”

Speaking about this year’s competition, Chief Executive of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, George O’Callaghan, said, “I would like to congratulate all of the schools and Transition Year students who competed in the final and our FET Division and our Schools Division on this fantastic initiative. I would also like to thank our team of professional executive chefs from the ETB’s Hospitality Campus and the Panel of Chefs of Ireland who have helped make today’s event for our TY students a reality.”

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