Ballymaloe Cookery School facts for kids
Kitchen garden at Ballymaloe, County Cork
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| Established | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Focus | Cookery school |
| Owner | Allen family |
| Location |
Shanagarry, County Cork
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Ireland
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| Coordinates | 51°51′35″N 8°01′55″W / 51.8596°N 8.0320°W |
The Ballymaloe Cookery School (BA-lee-MA-loo) is a famous cooking school in Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland. It opened in 1983 and is run by Darina Allen. She is a well-known chef, writes cookbooks, and helped start the slow food movement in Ireland. This movement encourages eating local, fresh, and healthy food. The school is special because it's on an organic farm. This means they grow food without harmful chemicals.
The Story of Ballymaloe Cookery School
The story of Ballymaloe began with Myrtle Allen and her husband, Ivan. They bought Ballymaloe House in 1948. Later, in 1964, they turned it into a restaurant.
In 1968, Darina O'Connell joined them. She helped teach and cook at the restaurant for several years. Myrtle Allen made history in 1975. She became the first Irish woman to earn a Michelin Star for her cooking. This is a very high award for restaurants. She kept this award for five years.
How the School Started
Darina O'Connell married Tim Allen, who was Myrtle and Ivan's son. In 1983, Darina and her brother, Rory O'Connell, decided to open their own cooking school. They started the Ballymaloe Cookery School in a place called Kinoith. This location is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from Ballymaloe House.
Famous Chefs from Ballymaloe
Many talented chefs have learned at Ballymaloe. One well-known chef is Rachel Allen. She studied at the school and is married to Isaac Allen. Isaac is Darina Allen's son.
As of 2023, Darina Allen still owns most of the school. It continues to be a leading place for learning how to cook.
