Enterprise Castlerea
Enterprise Castlerea is a local community organisation which developed The Hub to serve as a community centre for the people of Castlerea and its environs. The Hub includes a Montessori pre-school, a gym and fitness club, archery, boxing, badminton and basketball clubs as well as a musicians’ network, meeting and office space.
Enterprise Castlerea has further developed The Hub to encompass An Chistin, a new food hub which includes a state-of-the-art training and community kitchen offering cooking courses at all levels. Enterprise Castlerea is currently working on Phase II of the An Chistin project which will see the development of food business incubation units for rent to local food producers.
Enterprise Castlerea Committee
Chair – Benny O’Connell
Treasurer – Derval Harte
Secretary – Helen Fleming
Committee Members – Norrie Mooney, Sean Browne, Joe Henry, Anne Keegan, Paschal Fitzmaurice
Staff of An Chistin
Kathleen Rourke, Coordinator
Kathleen is a Professional Chef Educator with over twenty years of culinary experience. She has worked at various levels from commis to head chef in establishments ranging from five star hotels to family run restaurants. Kathleen trained as a commis chef in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin during which time she won a silver medal in The Chef Ireland competition, with the excellent guidance and support of the Westbury team.
Kathleen has completed Levels 6 and 7 in Professional Cookery, Levels 7 and 8 in International Cuisine and holds a Level 9 Masters in Adult Education from NUI Galway. Kathleen loves to see the progression of students from when they arrive on day one, to how they develop throughout the programme and to see the sense of satisfaction students get from mastering different techniques.
Cathy O’Neill, Assistant Coordinator
Cathy is a Professional Chef with over twenty years experience of a wide range of catering businesses. She has worked in festivals and events as a manager/chef all over Ireland, including Electric Picnic where she was part of a team that won a Bridgestone award. She has previously taught catering for 10 years while keeping her own skills up-to-date working in local restaurants/food businesses and in her own catering businesses. She also spent time working for multi-nationals in varied locations as a relief chef and provided advice for several small businesses in their establishment and growth. She holds a CERT in Professional Cookery and Business Degree in Tourism and Event Management.
An Chistin partners with local food and hospitality businesses who provide work experience placements for our students including;
The Abbey Hotel, Roscommon
Bar One, Castlebar
Benny’s Deli, Castlerea
Buffalo Boy, Carrick-on-Shannon
Cahill’s Supervalu, Castlerea
Hestors, Castlerea
Sodexo at NUI Galway
The White House, Ballinlough