The West Awake by Rockwell Hotel school Reunion.
THE WESTPORT WOODS HOTEL & SPA IN BEAUTIFUL MAYO
THE ROCKWELL HOTEL AND CATERING SCHOOL, which had a major influence on traditional cooking and service in the hospitality sector of Ireland, is holding a reunion for past students on Sunday 20th October at the Westport Woods Hotel & Spa in Westport, Co Mayo.
Stardust 1981 - This year Rockwell has invited members of the Stardust committee as their guests to remember and honour Brian Hobbs, one of the forty-eight who died in the 1981 Stardust fire. Brian was a past Rockwell student and an incredibly talented young waiter from Dublin with the world at his feet. Brian was a Gold medal winner for Ireland in Wine Waiting and had just returned from Zurich where he had gained valuable experience at the James Joyce Pub before his untimely death. Antoinette, a Stardust survivor & Lorraine Keegan who lost two sisters in the Stardust fire will represent Brian at the reunion as guests of honour sponsored by Ciaran Kelly, owner of the Landmark hotel Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
Joe Shannon RIP 5TH MARCH 2024
Rockwell will also honour their good friend, supporter, and colleague JOE SHANNON who we lost in March this year. Joe’s family will be with us on the night. Joe was such a great character and fully bought in to the Rockwell reunions sadly missed never forgotten.
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| The late Chef Joe Shannon |
Chef Paddy Brady Executive chef Westbury hotel from 1984 to 2000 is another supporting chef who would do so much for culinary Ireland, to be honoured for his support and contribution to Rockwell Hotel School.
ROCKWELL HOTEL & CATERING SCHOOL was world renowned for its unique training in hospitality and turned out some of Ireland’s best chefs and waiters, many of whom work in top restaurants around the world today.
Rockwell Hotel School was established in 1958 under the auspices of Bord Failte and was run by Jimmy Kelly in Rockwell, Cashel, Co Tipperary under the Holy Ghost Order and Fr Denis O’Brien
Well-known past pupils include Martin Shanahan, TV chef and proprietor of Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, Co. Cork, Eugene McSweeney, a well-known industry consultant who resides in Kilkenny, Ed Cooney Executive Chef at the five-year Merrion Hotel in Dublin, Steven McNally, former Deputy CEO at the Dalata Hotel Group and former President of the Irish Hotels Federation, Noel Cunningham media personality and General Manager at Harvey’s Point, Co, Donegal and Paul Carty Former MD at Diageo and Chair of Irish Tourism Confederation (ITIC), Sean Davoren head butler at The Savoy Hotel and lately seen on the ITV programme The Savoy and Michael Lynch, who has worked at Claridge’s since 1978 and featured in the 2012 BBC series Inside Claridge’s, are also past student of Rockwell.
Pat Cronin, who was one of Rockwell’s first students and the last Manager of the Catering School said: “Rockwell had a major influence on traditional cooking and service in the hotel and catering industry in Ireland during its 25-year history, and its legacy lives on as past pupils continue to make a major impact on the hospitality business national and globally. It is a sadder place without the Rockwell students.
Former pupils will be travelling from all over Ireland and further afield for the event – one chef Padraig Molloy is even coming in from Antarctica. The evening, which is in aid of a local charity, will commence with Mass at 7pm in the hotel, followed by a drink’s reception, a six-course dinner.
The organisers, Gerard Allen, former student and Dolores O’Connor, former Administration assistant at the school are also seeking old photos and memorabilia from Rockwell, as one of their past students, Rory Morahan, the Druid Chef, is putting together a collection for all to see on the night. If you have memorabilia, would like more details on the event, or you would just like to reconnect with old Rockwell friends, see the Rockwell Hotel School Facebook page and Instagram or contact rockwellhotelschool@gmail.com.
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| Westport Woods Hotel & Spa |
Looking for the perfect escape whether it is a family vacation, a friends' retreat, a romantic weekend, or a peaceful getaway, the four-star Westport Woods Hotel & Spa is your ideal destination. Nestled in a 300-year-old woodland, just minutes from vibrant Westport, our hotel offers the perfect blend of tranquillity and luxury.
Michael Lennon, manager of the Westport Woods Hotel and a former President of the Irish Hotels Federation, is a past Rockwell pupil, is hosting this year’s event, which is held every two years.