St Brigids Bake Off:

Every year St Brigids holds a student Bake Off. The best bakers are then entered into the CEIST(Catholic Education An Irish Schools Trust) Bake Off. This is a competition open to all students in post primary CEIST schools. There 2 categories: Junior (1st-3rd Year) and Senior (TY-6th Year). Senior students designed, baked and decorated a cake to reflect a theme chosen by CEIST, this varies each year. Junior Students designed, baked and decorated a novelty cake.The girls have 3 hours to complete the Bake Off. The Home Economics Department and guest judges carry out the difficult task of judging the cakes. The judging is based on appearance, flavour and appearance. Each year large numbers of students enter in both categories, everyone receives a certificate for participating and the winners received baking goods.

CEIST All Ireland Bake Off 2020:

Laura Looney a Fifth Year Student in St. Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School, Killarney finished in Third Place in the Senior Category of the Ceist All-Ireland Bake Off. Laura was one of seven senior students shortlisted from CEIST schools throughout Ireland.

The Bake off took place in Ardscoil na Trionoide, Athy, Co. Kildare on Friday 6th March. Each student had 3 hours to bake and decorate their masterpieces and the standard on the day was exceptionally high. Laura was accompanied on the day by her mother Karina and Home Economics teacher Catherine O’Donoghue, who organises the St Brigids Bake Off.

The Bake-Off provides CEIST schools the opportunity to build community and gives students a unique opportunity to develop design and creative skills through culinary arts.

There are two entry categories, Junior(1st-3rd) and Senior(TY to 6th).

1. Junior students must design, bake and decorate a novelty cake. There is no prescribed theme.

2. For senior students, the Bake-Off is centered on the theme of “Community” where students will design, bake and decorate a cake to reflect this theme.

Prior, to the Bake Off in Athy, St. Brigids held Junior and Senior Bake Offs in the school from which students were shortlisted and then entered into the competition. Hundreds of entries were received from all around Ireland and Laura was one of seven students shortlisted. Finalists on the day travelled from all over including Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Sligo.

The judges on the day were Edward Hayden from TV3 and a local baker. The cakes were judged under three criteria: taste, texture and appearance. Laura decided to represent the theme of community that she would base her cake on LGBTQ+ Laura baked a delicious three tier coffee cake, which she decorated with piped buttercream icing in an array of colours. She also moulded people using fondant icing.

Laura said:

Picking a theme: “when I heard of the competition many ideas filled my head from my school and rowing club. I then thought of some of my friends who are members of the LGBTQ+

community. I felt it was a way to honour their courage they have to be who they are. It symbolises that they can stand proud with their pride. “

“when waiting for the winners to be announced I didn’t want to get my hopes up as every cake on display was extraordinary. Then when they called my name for third place I became speechless. I was in awe over my achievement but also took note of the baking tips given so I can use them to improve my baking further”

Catherine O’Donoghue Home Economics Teacher: We in St. Brigids are so proud of Laura. It is such a fantastic achievement. We have such amazing talent in our school and winning our school bake off in February was an achievement in itself. However, this is another level again.

Home Economics Instagram:

St Brigids Home Economics Department run an Instagram page where photographs of students work, nutritional information and quizzes/polls etc are posted. It has proved very popular amongst students and is a great way of communicating information to them. Below is the link to the page, please give us a follow ? SBK Home Economics (@sbk_homeeconomics) • Instagram photos and videos