Year: 2013

Apprentice Chefs Turn up the Heat in the Kitchen!

Apprentice Chefs Turn up the Heat in the Kitchen!

Two talented Home Economics students in Hazelwood College have confirmed that they can take the heat in the kitchen when they wowed judges with their exceptional culinary skills in the Apprentice Chef final held in the Institute of Technology, Tralee on Friday last.

It was a hotly contested final with Julia O’ Doherty TY and Laura Stack 2nd year competing against 6 other finalists from schools in Kerry and Cork. The students had to create a recipe for a main course using ingredients listed in the “Good Mood Food List” with marks being awarded on presentation, quality and skills demonstrated along with a written project.

Laura Stack created a mouth watering dish which consisted of crispy chicken with spinach and tarragon stuffing served with roast vegetable filo basket and a bell pepper sauce. Julia O’ Doherty impressed judges with her sole roulade served on a bed of stir fry vegetables, potato gratin and a prawn bisque sauce. This creation led to Julia being crowned as the overall winner by the judges who commented on Julia’s impressive level of skills for someone so young and her extensive knowledge regarding her coursework. Apprentice Chef Mentor Judge Mark Doe said “We have been blown away by the standard of not only the cooking of the students’ dishes, but just as importantly the standard of projects they submitted”

Julia’s exceptional win was rewarded with a very generously sponsored prize of €1,000 worth of cooking equipment for Hazelwood College by Lee Strand, a three day internship with Apprentice Chef Mentor Simon Regan at the 5 Star Hotel Europe in Killarney, three cookery workshops with Apprentice Chef Mentor Mark Doe at “Just Cooking” cookery school in Firies, three Innerjoy Wellbeing coaching sessions with Susan Fitzgerald, an Apprentice Chef uniform, kitchen utensils and certificate.

Laura along with the other 6 runners-up received prizes consisting of a three hour cookery masterclass at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, an Apprentice Chef uniform and certificate. Their Home Economics teacher at Hazelwood College Ms. Daly was overjoyed with the news and was thrilled that their interest, enthusiasm and talent shone through on the day.

Photo: Sixteen year old Julia O’Doherty, a transition year student in Hazelwood College who was announced as the Overall Winner of The Apprentice Chef 2013. Presenting her with a cheque of 1,000 euros is John O’Sullivan General Manager Lee Strand, from left, Mark Murphy Lecturer ITT, Simon Regan, Chef – Hotel Europe, Mark Doe, Chef – Just Cooking, John Murray Lecturer ITT, Susan Fitzgerald Innerjoy & Wellbeing Coach, Noreen Daly Home Economics Teacher Hazelwood College.

Photo: Left to Right – Julia O’Doherty TY and Laura Stack 2nd Year at the Apprentice Chef Final in Institute of Technology Tralee.

Video supplied by YouTube.com, Hazelwood College accepts no responsibility or liability for loss as a result of third party content

World Book Day Celebrations

World Book Day Celebrations

All classes at Hazelwood College came to stand still for 20 minutes last Thursday. As part of World Book Day celebrations, students and teachers participated in The DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) programme

As part of World Book Day celebrations at Hazelwood College 1st and 2nd year students took part in “Speed Book Dating”. Students, while dressed as their favourite book character, spent Thursday morning discussing their favourite books with their fellow colleagues.

Star Adult Learners Project

Dromcollogher STAR ADULT LEARNERS PROJECT celebrated in Dublin!

An tIonad Glas – The Organic College in Dromcollogher was this week selected as one of the Final Six Nationwide STAR Projects at a special AONTAS Awards Ceremony in Dublin as part of Adult Learners Festival 2013 .

The College, which has been operating for over twenty years, was earlier invited to make a presentation of its work by past and present students: Dan Harold Kilmeedy, Maggie Hanley Askeaton, Gerard Grace Nenagh, Paula Pender Carlow and Jim McNamara Educational Directior of the College.

The final selection of one project from the Top Six in Ireland was announced last Monday and was presented to “Training for Success” from Sligo, a project for learners with Epilepsy. The Organic College was represented at this event by Elizabeth Dolan of Hazelwood College, together with Gerard Grace and Jim McNamara.

In a keynote address to the STAR Adult Learners and providers, Mr. John Lonergan, former Governer of Mountjoy Prison, spoke of the need “to celebrate and give hope, meaning and affirmation to people, especially in times of recession”. He said “we need to see education not as a status thing but as a human right for everyone! The creation of oppertunities for oneself and for others to grow and reach their full potential, was regarded as one of the most valuable things we can do in our lives.”

Further details may be had form our website: www.organiccollege.com or by contacting An tIonad Glas at 06383604

Hazelwood March on in Junior Cork Colleges Competition

Hazelwood March on in Junior Cork Colleges Competition

On Wednesday 20th of February last, the Hazelwood College Junior Camogie team played Carrigtwohill in the Junior Cork Colleges Competition, in the sports complex in Carrigtwohill. It was a bitterly cold day with a howling wind, which were not the best conditions for a Camogie game. Hazelwood had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half. They took advantage of this strong wind straight away after the ball was thrown in. Cliona O’ Callaghan got Hazelwood off the mark with a fine point resulting from a great solo run from midfield. The Hazelwood girls continued to dominate the game throughout the first half with further scores through Cliona O’ Callaghan, Marie Danaher and Laura Stack just before half time.

After the break Hazelwood faced some pressure from the Carrigtwohill team as they now had the advantaged of the strong wind. The Hazelwood backs led by Tara Fitzgibbon dealt with the pressure as they cleared every ball that came their way. However, the Hazelwood girls also did continue attack. Due to this pressure the Hazelwood girls continue to score some excellent points through Chloe O’ Brien, Emma O’ Callaghan and Tara Fitzgibbon. Carrigtwohill finally broke the Hazelwood defence down and scored a scrappy goal. However, this was all that they managed to score in the entire game. After this Hazelwood applied even more pressure and they finally got the goal that they deserved through Tara O’ Leary. The game ended with Hazelwood wining on the scoreline of 1-10 to 1-00. It was a great victory and they now go on to the next round in the competition.

Team: K. Foley, R. McNamara, S. Shanahan, E. Mulcahy, C. O’ Brien(0-01), T. Fitzgibbon(0-01), M. Fitzgibbon, B. O’Connor, C. O’Callaghan(0-04), E. Mulcahy, L. Stack(0-01), E. O’ Callaghan(0-02), E. Lenihan, M. Danaher(0-01), N. O’ Brien.

Subs: A. McMahon for E. Mulcahy, T. O’ Leary (1-00) for M. Danaher, T. O’Callaghan for N. O’ Brien.

Hazelwood Hurlers Triumph in Cashel Clash

Hazelwood Hurlers Triumph in Cashel Clash


Hazelwood College 4-14
Cashel Community School 2-9

Hazelwood College’s Under 15 hurlers travelled to Killmallock to face Cashel on 27th February last. Cashel ratcheted up the pressure with a series of early points. After ten minutes, Hazelwood settled into the game, when Anthony Barrett snatched a fine point from range. Hazelwood began to stamp their authority on the game, thanks to the efforts of Hazelwood’s half back line of Ryan O’ Gorman, Gearoid Mathews and Brian Buckley, who closed down Cashel’s forwards.

Scores from Cian Flynn and Jack O’Sullivan saw Hazelwood storm into the lead, reaching a seven point advantage late on in the first half. However, the expected Cashel counterattack provided some eye catching points from tight angles. By half time Cashel managed to cut the Hazelwood’s advantage to a four point lead.

After half time Hazelwood moved Donal Molyneaux in to full forward and Cian Flynn moved out to centre forward. This seemed to breathe new life into the Hazelwood attacker. In the opening minutes of the game, Tim Larkin skilfully lobbed Cashel the keeper after his original effort was not cleared. After this dream start to the second half Hazelwood’s confidence soared.

As he did against Rathkeale, Jack O’ Sullivan showed skill and accuracy both in play and with frees. Hazelwood had a slight injury scare when Donal Molyneaux went down on the twenty one yard line after taking a blow to the back of the head. After some tense minutes he returned to the action and managed to secure some vital scores.

In the last ten minutes of the game, Hazelwood’s fitness proved to be the decisive factor as two late points from Cian Flynn and a last minute goal from Nigel O’Callaghan put the gloss on a solid Hazelwood victory.

Urban Design Study for Hazelwood Students

Urban Design Study for Hazelwood Students

Hazelwood College’s Transition Year students recently completed a walking tour of Shannon, Ireland’s first planned town. The purpose of the tour was to study how Irish planner’s thoughts and ideals have evolved over the past sixty years. Students learned how urban planning and design changed from Shannon’s early days as a dormitory town to its current 21st century design. Students saw how housing changed from the original apartment based living of the early airport workers to the introduction of families and children in the 1960s, when the government tax breaks encouraged large industry, right through to the compact urban jungle of the Celtic Tiger era. The students also learned about how Shannon, lying almost 2 metres below sea-level, defends itself from the daily threat of flooding through a network of embankments, culverts and pumping stations.

National Award for Hazelwood Heroine

National Award for Hazelwood Heroine

Rebecca O’Connell, Transition Year student at Hazelwood College, recently participated in the Irish Pony Society’s ‘Mountain and Moorland’ competition. In the first round, Rebecca excelled in the Working Hunter 143cm category, when she was the only competitor to secure a clear round. In the Showpiece Round, Rebecca’s skills were such that she won the 143cm category and secured a spot in the Irish Pony Society ‘Mountain and Moorland’ Championship. Although up against several more experienced riders, Rebecca emerged victorious and was presented with the ‘Hillery Cup’. In the course of the Irish Pony Society ‘Mountain and Moorland’ League, Rebecca secured a first place and two second place positions in different events.

Hazelwood College National Irish Pony Society Award winner Rebecca O’Connell (centre) with the ‘Hillery Cup’ and her National Award rosettes. Hazelwood College Principal Mr Brendan Burke (left) and Deputy Principal Elizabeth Dolan (right) are pictured here congratulating Rebecca on her recent.

National Pramerica “Spirit of the Community” Awards

National Pramerica “Spirit of the Community” Awards

Congratulations to Alisha Nagle from Newtown Shandrum who recieved a Certificate of Merit from the National Pramerica “Spirit of the Community” Awards. Alisha, a first year student at Hazelwood College, received this certificate in recognition of the outstanding volunteer work she does outside of school hours. Well Done!