NEWRY, Thursday 21 May 2026 — Three Professional Cookery and Hospitality students from Southern Regional College have taken the Rotary Ireland Generation Chef 2026 title at the Grand Final, retaining the crown the College first won in 2025 and beating five other Northern Ireland colleges to do it.
Leon Ruddy (18) from Bleary, Eva Newell (18) from Kilkeel and Front of House student Katie Gray (17) from Collone, Armagh, were named winners on Thursday 30 April in front of a six-strong panel of industry judges. The final was hosted at SRC’s Newry East campus — the venue earned by the College after its victory in the inaugural 2025 competition.
Generation Chef is one of the flagship youth projects run across our 65 clubs in Ireland, designed to spotlight rising culinary talent in further-education colleges and connect students with the hospitality industry.
A second consecutive win for SRC Newry
The winning trio were mentored throughout by SRC lecturers Lynette McMath and Keith Campbell in the kitchen, and Seamus Rooney for front-of-house service, under the leadership of Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager of Hospitality and Tourism at the College. The team emerged from a regional heat in late March, judged in part by Michelin-starred chef Danni Barry.
“I’m immensely proud of Leon, Eva and Katie on winning this very prestigious competition. Winning two years in a row is a true testament to our commitment to developing and nurturing talent within the Hospitality and Catering industry.”
Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager of Hospitality and Tourism, Southern Regional College
SWC Omagh take second place
South West College‘s Omagh campus finished a close second, with Mason Connolly (Level 3 Professional Chef), Alex Doherty (Level 2 Professional Chef, Traineeship) and Connor Sweeney (Level 2 Professional Chef, Traineeship and Food and Beverage Service) impressing judges across both kitchen and service. The SWC Omagh team was supported by lecturing staff and by members of the Rotary Club of Omagh, who have championed the competition locally since its launch.
As part of their runner-up prize, the SWC Omagh trio will take a five-star food and hospitality tour across the island, including farm-to-fork experiences, masterclasses with executive chefs, and visits to leading culinary establishments such as Belfast’s Michelin-starred OX, alongside meetings with local food suppliers.
Industry backing for the next generation
Generation Chef is delivered in partnership with the further-education sector and the hospitality industry, with judges, mentors and prize partners drawn from restaurants, hotel groups and foodservice across Northern Ireland and the Republic. The competition is part of a wider effort by Rotary in Ireland to support young people into skilled careers — alongside Rotaract for young adults and Interact in schools.
Congratulations to the winning SRC Newry team, to the SWC Omagh runners-up, and to every student, lecturer and Rotarian who helped make this year’s final happen. Colleges interested in entering Generation Chef 2027 can register interest through the Rotary Ireland club directory.