‘Kitchen of Hope’ raises €20,000

The "Kitchen of Hope" fundraiser organised by chefs Rory Morahan and Neven Maguire has raised €20,000 for two Dublin hospitals.

The event took place in Bray ten months after Cathal Morahan, son of the Druid Chef and event organiser Rory Morahan, was involved in a potentially life-changing car accident. Like his father, Cathal, 21, was building a career in hospitality, working as a bar manager at The Queen’s, Dalkey. 

He was driving home from work late at night in January when the incident took place. He suffered a significant brain injury and had to be cut out of his car by paramedics before being put in a medically-induced coma at Beaumont Hospital.

His condition was touch-and-go, and he has no memory of the crash, but Cathal has gone on to make close to a full recovery. He was amazed at all the work that went into returning him to good health and wanted to acknowledge and thank the staff at Beaumont and the Royal Hospital Donnybrook where he completed his rehabilitation.

Rory (pictured with Grainne Seoige and family members) managed to organise and sell out the event in three weeks, roping in Neven Maguire, whose nephew James was also treated at Beaumont after suffering a brain injury in a fall four years ago.

The Druid Chef also called on Sysco Ireland Development Chef Simon Hudson, whom he knew from their time together at the Dorchester Hotel, as well as Merrion Hotel Executive Pastry Chef Paul Kelly, Weekend AM’s Karl Clarke (aka "Charlo") and Sean Nelson (aka "Bubba the Pitmaster") for Kitchen of Hope, which took place in front of an audience at Cathal’s former secondary school, Coláiste Ráithín.

Rory was also assisted by his nephew Ronan Marshall, who has worked with Gordon Ramsey and also spent time working in Australia, and the event was compered by Gráinne Seoige. Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris and Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady competed in a cook-off.

Tributes were also paid to Peter Brady, who was an executive chef at Jury’s for over 25 years, who has recovered from a number of heart attacks and strokes after spending more than a year in hospital. Peter was cared for by his wife Mary, and the event gave the assembled chefs as well as a number of friends and former colleagues in attendance the chance to show their appreciation to him and his family.