It is run by Darina Allen, a celebrity chef, cookery book author and pioneer of the slow food movement in Ireland.

[1][2][3][4][5][6] Myrtle Allen and her husband Ivan bought Ballymaloe House in 1948, and opened it as a restaurant in 1964.

[8] Darina married the Allen's son Tim, and (together with her brother Rory O'Connell) started the Ballymaloe Cooking School in nearby Kinoith in 1983.

[12] The presiding judge substituted a nine-month suspended sentence for a 240-hour community service order and his name was placed upon the sex offenders register.

[22][23] The course began after students self-isolated for 14 days,[22][23] and was modified after the lockdown was extended in late January.