December 2020 saw the first Virtual Christmas Cake Competition introduced in DGS, in what was a necessary measure due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The organisers of the Virtual Christmas Cake Competition – Home Economics teachers, Aisling Byrne and  Maria Binks were mindful that the idea of a virtual bake off where all images of the final products were uploaded may not work but, yet, were absolutely blown away by the creativity of each entry that they received. Maria Binks added “I loved the descriptive detail of each entry. The student’s went above and beyond the brief in using digital footage, festive music and Christmas props to showcase their final product”.

Competition entry ideas ranged from chilly penguins, frozen snowmen, and bashful reindeers to frosty log cabins, cheerful candles and snowy Christmas trees   – all lovingly created from cake! It was so difficult to decide on a winner and there were very little marks between the top 3 cakes.

There could, however, only be one winner.

First place was awarded to 1^st year student Sophie Malone who created a wonderful log cabin using her grandmother’s recipe. Sophie commented that she had a lot of fun making and decorating her log cabin cake and that she was surprised and delighted with the win. With second and third prizes going, respectively to two second year students, Holly Hughes, who created a Christmas tree  and Lauren MacMahon who presented her Gingerbread Christmas village cake for judging.  Prizes included shop local vouchers and cook’s hampers each containing equipment from Neven Maguire’s COOK range and other goodies along with medals and an inscribed plaque for 1^st place.  Well done to the girls and thank you to all the entrants which made for a very interesting competition.

A very special word of thanks goes to award-winning chef Neven Maguire who cheered on our students from his base Mac Nean House in Co. Cavan and very generously donated a signed copy of one of his many cookbooks ‘Home Economics for Life’ and a signed apron for the very deserving 1^st place winner. Neven sent all the students a message of congratulations and emphasised the importance of the life skill of Home Economics in his heartwarming and encouraging video.  A word of thanks also to all our wonderful parents & guardians, whose support at this time is very much appreciated.                                                       

Congratulations to the worthy winners and we hope they will continue in their creative endeavours in the kitchen in the years ahead. Wishing all the entrants and winners a very Happy Christmas.