Outstanding success for DkIT Hospitality students

Students from the Hospitality Department at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) delivered an exceptional performance at the culinary competitions held during IFEX 2026 at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn, bringing home an impressive collection of medals across a range of challenging categories

The event, widely recognised as the biggest hospitality showcase of the year, brought together students, industry professionals and leading chefs from across the sector, and saw the DkIT team competing against their peers from other institutions and experienced chefs.

Zhi Hong Liew (Joshua) achieved remarkable success, winning Gold in Butchery and Bronze in the Classical Chicken competition, demonstrating exceptional technical skill and precision.

Speaking after his win, he said: “Winning at IFEX 2026 was a proud moment for me. Competitions like this push me to grow as a chef, and I’m very grateful for the support and guidance from my lecturer, Michael, and everyone who supported me along the way.”

Ondrej Mer secured Bronze in the prestigious Student Culinarian of the Year competition, a highly respected category that tests competitors across multiple culinary disciplines.

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Reflecting on the competition Ondrej said: “Competing at IFEX was an incredibly positive experience for me. Even though it was my second time in a culinary competition, the pressure and nerves were just as intense. After winning two silver medals last year, I set high expectations for myself.

"This year, I challenged myself even further by entering more demanding categories, including Young Culinarian of the Year 2026 and Cook and Serve—both involving multiple courses, with the latter being a team competition alongside classmates from different departments. The experience was truly rewarding and I know there is always room to grow and improve.”

Daniela Schmidova earned Bronze in the Afternoon Tea competition, while Charlie Weldon showcased excellent knife and seafood preparation skills, winning Bronze in Fishmongery and Bronze in Larder Knife Skills.

Cillian Gonnelly was also recognised for his performance, receiving Bronze in Fishmongery and a Certificate in Larder Knife Skills.

In the Cook and Serve competition, a team consisting of Ondrej Mer, Daniela Schmidova, Ana Gheorghiu and Jamie Mc Elhinney delivered an impressive performance, earning a bronze medal.

The team showcased a wide range of culinary and service skills while delivering a three-course fine dining experience for invited guests.

One of the highlights for the judges was Ana Gheorghiu’s gueridon service of Irish coffee, a style of tableside service where food or beverages are prepared, cooked, or finished at the guest’s table using a movable trolley or cart, which added a theatrical and professional touch to the experience.

The students were mentored and supported throughout their preparation and during the competition by dedicated members of the Hospitality Department staff: Rosemary Leonard, Alan McCabe, Michael McNamara and Christopher McGrath.

Anyone interested in representing DkIT in future culinary competitions can explore the Culinary and Hospitality programmes offered by the Department of Hospitality Studies | DkIT