Culinary team triumphs at CATEX contest

Keith Piggott, Will King, Bernadette Enright, Martin Zemba, Carol Dollery and Freddie Cullen Picture: Brian Arthur

placeholder image — Keith Piggott, Will King, Bernadette Enright, Martin Zemba, Carol Dollery and Freddie Cullen Picture: Brian Arthur

Over the three days, the College of FET Hospitality Campus won an incredible 41 national awards

THE team from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s College of FET, hospitality campus, has dominated the Chef Ireland National Culinary Competition at CATEX 2025, one of Ireland’s most prestigious culinary competitions.

This marks another remarkable achievement for the team, which includes a dedicated group of tutors and Apprentice of the Year winner Freddie Cullen. Their success at this esteemed event further highlights the hospitality campus’ status as an EFQM (European Framework for Quality Management) European centre of excellence in the delivery of high-quality further education.

Over the three days, the College of FET Hospitality Campus won an incredible 17 silver, 12 gold and 12 national champion awards and the Food Safety Professional Hygiene Award.

Paul Patton, director of further education and training at Limerick and Clare ETB, said: “Our College of FET Hospitality Campus has earned a stellar reputation for culinary excellence, and this achievement further underscores the dedication and effort involved in preparing for a prestigious event like CATEX.

“It’s also a true testament to the passion, talent, and commitment of our expert instructors and apprentices, whose hard work has made this success possible.”

This year is particularly significant for both the team and the event itself, as CATEX celebrates its 60th anniversary as Ireland’s premier gathering for the hospitality and foodservice sectors.