The Rockwell Hotel and Catering School, influential in traditional Irish cooking and hospitality, is hosting a reunion for past students on October 20th at the Westport Woods Hotel & Spa in Co Mayo.
This year’s reunion honoured the memory of Brian Hobbs, a talented alumnus and Gold medal winner, who tragically died in the 1981 Stardust fire, with guests including Stardust committee members and survivors.
Established under the auspices of Bord Failte in 1958, Rockwell Hotel School was run by Jimmy Kelly in Rockwell, Cashel, Co Tipperary under the Holy Ghost Order and Fr Denis O’Brien Alumni include
- Paul Carty Former MD at Guinness Storehouse, Chair of Irish Tourism Confederation (ITIC) and chair of Failte Ireland,
- Ed Cooney Executive Chef at the five-star Merrion Hotel in Dublin,
- Noel Cunningham media personality and General Manager at Harvey’s Point, Co, Donegal
- Sean Davoren, TV personality and head butler at The Savoy Hotel
- Michael Lynch, TV personality who has worked at Claridge’s since 1978
- Stephen McNally, former Deputy CEO at the Dalata Hotel Group and former President of the Irish Hotels Federation,
- Eugene McSweeney industry consultant who resides in Kilkenny,
- Martin Shanahan, TV chef and proprietor of Fishy Fishy in Kinsale,
Pat Cronin, who was one of the first students and the last Manager of the Catering School shared: “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.
