SWC Catering and Hospitality Students Cook Up Success in Regional Heats 14 Apr 2025 Hospitality and Catering students from South West College (SWC) have cooked up success after impressing in the regional heats of the inaugural Rotary Generation Chef competition, held in the college’s Omagh Gallery Restaurant. Omagh campus students Ethan Donaghy, Mason Connolly, and Patrik Papai emerged as the winning team, securing the opportunity to represent the College in the Generation Chef National Final organised by Rotary Clubs Northern Ireland in partnership with all six Further Education colleges. On the day, Level 3 Catering and Hospitality students from the Omagh, Dungannon and Enniskillen campuses competed in three teams, showcasing their culinary and front-of-house skills in a high-pressure, industry-standard environment. As part of the challenge, students were tasked with designing and preparing a three-course menu that demonstrated their understanding of seasonality, sustainability, and the use of locally sourced ingredients. Each team also presented a mood board to explain the inspiration and rationale behind their dishes. Guided by SWC’s dedicated lecturing staff, the students combined classical cookery techniques with modern flair to create a memorable dining experience for members of Rotary Clubs Northern Ireland, who were in attendance. Judging the event were Glen and Zara Wheeler from 28 at the Hollow, Enniskillen, and Aaron Duffy from Castle Leslie Estate. All three judges were full of praise for the students' professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail. Commenting at the event, Glen Wheeler said: “The level of talent and dedication we’ve witnessed today is phenomenal. These young chefs demonstrated a maturity beyond their years in both flavour and presentation. It wasn’t an easy decision as every team brought something unique to the table.” Speaking on behalf of the Rotary Club, representatives expressed their thanks to South West College for hosting the event and congratulated all participants for their hard work, commitment, and passion for the industry. Chris Evans Head of Department Commercial and Business Services from SWC said: “We are incredibly proud of all the students who took part. This competition perfectly embodies Rotary’s mission of fostering community growth, connecting people, and supporting young talent. It offers students an invaluable opportunity to test their skills, gain feedback from industry professionals, and build confidence as they prepare for their future careers. We wish Ethan, Mason and Patrik the very best as they progress to the national final.” The winning team Ethan Donaghy, Mason Connolly, and Patrik Papai from the Omagh campus will now go on to represent South West College at the Generation Chef National Final, taking place on 1 May 2025 at Belfast Metropolitan College. They will compete against finalists from five other Further Education Colleges across Northern Ireland for the coveted Generation Chef 2025 title. Catering and Hospitality Learn more Share Sign up. Get Qualified. Succeed. Subscribe now for hand-picked courses, inspiration and the latest news and offers, straight to your inbox. The details provided will be used to send you relevant information about SWC. Subscribe now for hand-picked courses, inspiration and the latest news and offers, straight to your inbox. The details provided will be used to send you relevant information about SWC.