Food is a multicultural interest and, fittingly, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and its Northern counterpart, Northern Ireland Seafood, have come together - as for the last two of the 38 years of the competition - to organise the All-Ireland Schools' Seafood Cookery Millennium Challenge.

And a challenge it is. Each contestant has to prepare a "delicious seafood dish for yourself and three friends in just one hour with a budget of £20". Ready, steady there . . . not even professional TV cooks do that.

However, one of the TV cooks who helps brings haute cuisine into ordinary kitchens, Jenny Bristow from Cullybakcey, Co Antrim, will be on hand to arbitrate on the final offerings in the new year.

Bristow, whose down-home version of high-class cooking is seen in kitchens in 22 countries and who has written six cookery books, says: "This competition will challenge the imagination of many a cook. Fish is one of the very best, healthiest and quickest foods to cook, so I am looking forward to the recipes rolling in."

So, too, is the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Michael Woods, who wished the young fish-cooks "fair sail" last Wednesday, and who undoubtedly will be looking forward to sampling the best of the catch when the finals take place.

There will be five regional competitions to select the entrants to go forward to the final in Belfast next spring.

Joining the prawns at last week's launch of the All-Ireland Schools' Seafood Cookery Millennium Challenge were TV chef and writer Jenny Bristow and last year's winner, Geraldine Hughes from Ballinrobe Community College, Co Mayo.