Galgorm’s Alex O’Hara crowned NI Cocktail Bartender of the Year
Alex O’Hara, centre, from The Castle Kitchen and Bar, Galgorm Collection, was crowned Cocktail Bartender of the Year at the inaugural Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition. Alex is pictured alongside judges, from left, Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Paula McIntyre, celebrity chef, Paul Flynn, MCM Spirits and Giffards and Ryan Brown, Edward Dillon.
Monday 05 October 2026
A Galgorm bartender has been crowned Northern Ireland’s Cocktail Bartender of the Year after impressing judges with drinks inspired by his family heritage and changing consumer tastes.
Alex O’Hara, from The Castle Kitchen & Bar, took the top prize at the inaugural Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition, held at Fratelli Galgorm on Tuesday 22 September.
His victory earns him a trip to Angers in France to visit the Giffard liqueur factory, after he came out on top in a competition featuring hospitality talent from across Galgorm Collection and McKeever Group.
Family story inspires winning drinks
Alex secured the title with two creations, including Gentleman’s Buzz, which combines whiskey, fresh honey and malted barley and draws directly on his family traditions.
The barley was grown by his grandfather, while the honey came from bees Alex keeps alongside his mother. His second drink, Miami Beet, used Giffard’s non-alcoholic ginger liqueur, beetroot and fresh mint to offer a low-calorie alternative aimed at health-conscious customers.
Speaking about his win, Alex said:
“To be recognised alongside so many talented people is a fantastic achievement, and I’m absolutely delighted to have won. I love creating cocktails and experimenting with seasonal ingredients, new flavours and different combinations, so having the opportunity to put those skills to the test in the competition was a brilliant experience.
“The competition, together with my training at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, has really helped build my confidence and develop my skills. It’s exciting to be building a career in an industry I’m genuinely passionate about, and I’m looking forward to continuing to learn, experiment and create new drinks for our guests to enjoy.”
Eleven finalists put to the test
Pictured are the finalists who took part in the inaugural Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition.
The competition began with 22 entries before being narrowed to 11 finalists, who were challenged to create and present both a cocktail and a non-alcoholic drink for tasting.
The 11 finalists in the Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition were:
• Alfie Beckett — The Castle Kitchen and Bar, Galgorm Collection
• Alex O’Hara — The Castle Kitchen and Bar, Galgorm Collection
• Melissa Edwards — The Dunadry
• Bradley Le Quesne — Elements, Galgorm Collection
• Lisa McAllister — Elements, Galgorm Collection
• Takashi Ibottson — Elements, Galgorm Collection
• Djann Balmes — the Gin Bar, Galgorm Collection
• Rory Heffron — McKendry’s, Galgorm Collection
• Andrew Dunne — The Old Inn, Galgorm Collection
• Theola Laverty — The Rabbit Hotel and Retreat, Galgorm Collection
• Aaron Stevenson — Roe Valley Resort, Galgorm Collection
Competitors were assessed on technique, creativity, speed, consistency, presentation, costing, customer service and their ability to perform under pressure. The judging panel included Paul Flynn of MCM Spirits and Giffards, celebrity chef Paula McIntyre, Brenda McGale of Tessieree, Ryan Brown of Edward Dillon and Ashley Douglas of the Northern Ireland Hospitality School.
Andrew Dunne, from The Old Inn, Galgorm Collection, is pictured collecting his second-place prize from judges, Ryan Brown, Edward Dillon and Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, during the inaugural Cocktail Competition.
Theola Laverty, from The Rabbit Hotel and Retreat, Galgorm Collection, receiving her third-place prize, from Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School during the inaugural Cocktail Competition.
Andrew Dunne, from The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, finished second and won a trip to the Bombay Sapphire Gin distillery, while Theola Laverty, from The Rabbit Hotel and Retreat, took third place and won Westlife tickets.
Bradley Le Quesne, from Elements, Galgorm Collection, scored full marks for his non-alcoholic cocktail at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition. Bradley is pictured receiving his prize from Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School.
Djann Balmes, from the Gin Bar and Takashi Ibottson, from Elements, Galgorm Collection achieved highly commended prizes during the Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition. They’re pictured alongside Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School.
Takashi Ibottson and Bradley Le Quesne, from Elements, and Djann Balmes, from the Gin Bar at Galgorm Golf Resort and Spa, also performed strongly. Takashi and Djann received highly commended accolades, while Bradley achieved full marks for his non-alcoholic Giffard cocktail.
Training the next generation of hospitality talent
The Northern Ireland Hospitality School was established in 2021 by Galgorm Golf Resort and Spa, The Adair Arms Hotel and Tullyglass House Hotel, with initial funding from The Gallaher Trust.
More than 250 bar and restaurant employees have since completed training while securing full-time employment in local hotels, according to the School, with a number progressing into supervisory and management roles.
The registered charity provides practical training through its Bar, Chef and Restaurant Academies. Students from its Chef Academy were also involved in the competition, preparing canapés paired with the drinks served on the day.
Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, said:
“This competition was a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase not only their bartending skills, but also the creativity, knowledge and attention to detail that go into creating a great cocktail.
“Each finalist was challenged to develop their own serve, explain the thinking and techniques behind it, demonstrate their choice of ingredients and balance of flavours, and consider everything from presentation through to sustainability.
“Bartending offers an exciting and rewarding career path, and at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, our students have the opportunity to learn from highly experienced tutors who bring a wealth of real-world knowledge from across the hospitality industry.
“Our training continues to evolve in line with the tastes and trends shaping the industry, ensuring our students develop relevant, practical skills that will serve them well throughout their careers. We’re incredibly proud of what all 11 finalists achieved, and it was fantastic to see their talent, confidence and creativity come through in the competition.”
Judges praise emerging talent
Judge Paula McIntyre said choosing a winner had been difficult because of the standard demonstrated by the finalists.
She said:
“Congratulations to Alex on being crowned Cocktail Bartender of the Year. Choosing a winner was no easy task, with every finalist bringing something different to the competition and demonstrating real creativity, skill and thought in their approach.
“What impressed me most was the passion and enthusiasm shown by all of the finalists. There was a real sense that they wanted to challenge themselves, develop their skills and build successful careers within the hospitality industry. The standard was incredibly high and they should all be very proud of what they achieved.”
Alex’s success gives the Ballymena-based hospitality school another example of the career progression it was established to support, while his winning drinks also reflect the industry’s increasing focus on creative low- and no-alcohol choices alongside traditional cocktails.
More information about the Northern Ireland Hospitality School and its courses is available at https://www.nihospitalityschool.com/.
