Darina Hilda Allen (née O'Connell; born 13 June 1948) is an Irish

chef A chef is a professional Cook (profession), cook and tradesperson who is proficient in all aspects of outline of food preparation, food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. The word "chef" is derived from the term (), the di ...

food writer Food writing is a literary genre that focuses on the cultural and historical significance of food. It encompasses various forms, including recipes, journalism, memoirs, and travelogues, and can be found in both fiction and non-fiction works. Food ...

, TV personality and founder of

Ballymaloe Cookery School The Ballymaloe Cookery School () is a privately run cookery school in Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland, that was opened in 1983. It is run by Darina Allen, a celebrity chef, cookery book author and pioneer of the slow food movement in Ireland. T ...

Biography

Darina Allen was born in

Cullohill Cullahill or Cullohill () is a small village situated on the R639 road in County Laois, Ireland. Cullahill takes its name from an ancient forest that covered Cullahill Mountain and extended down to Cullahill Castle. History A priory of Aug ...

County Laois County Laois ( ; ) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medieval kingdom. Hist ...

, the eldest of nine children. The renowned chef Rory O'Connell is her brother. A graduate in

hotel management A hotel manager, hotelier, or lodging manager is a person who manages the operation of a hotel, motel, resort, or other lodging-related establishment. Management of a hotel operation includes, but is not limited to: management of hotel staff, ...

of the

Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, ) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological University Dublin, as TU Dublin City Campus. The insti ...

, she is the author of several successful books on the topic of

Irish cuisine Irish cuisine encompasses the cooking styles, traditions and recipes associated with the island of Ireland. It has developed from antiquity through centuries of social and political change and the mixing of different cultures, predominantly ...

. She is a leader of the Slow Food movement in Ireland and instrumental in establishing a network of farmers' markets in the

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

area. In the 1960s she was sous-chef at Ballymaloe House and started giving courses in cooking. Later she moved the cookery classes to Kinoith under the name of

. She married Tim Allen, son of

Myrtle Allen Myrtle Allen (13 March 1924 – 13 June 2018) was an Irish Michelin star-winning Chef#Chef de cuisine, head chef and co-owner of the restaurant The Yeats Room at Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, County Cork. Besides her career in cooking, s ...

and Ivan Allen, and now lives on her organic farm, Kinoith, in

Shanagarry Shanagarry () is a village in east County Cork in Ireland. The village is located near Ireland's south coast, approximately east of Cork, on the R632 regional road. Shanagarry is known for the Ballymaloe Cookery School, in the home and garde ...

. Allen has been voted cooking teacher of the year by the

International Association of Culinary Professionals The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is a United States–based not-for-profit professional association whose members work in culinary education, communication, or the preparation of food and beverage. It was started in 19 ...

. She is owner of Ballymaloe Cookery School in

, County Cork. The school is situated on an organically run farm. Allen was a founder of some of the first Farmers' Markets in Ireland and continues to be involved in helping set up new markets.. She is currently chair of the Midleton Farmers' Market. Darina Allen's husband, Tim Allen set up the Ballymaloe Cookery School with Darina. In January 2003 he pleaded guilty to possessing 977 pornographic images of children. He was caught as part of the Gardaí's Operation Amethyst, which tracked internet users who paid for

child pornography Child pornography (also abbreviated as CP, also called child porn or kiddie porn, and child sexual abuse material, known by the acronym CSAM (underscoring that children can not be deemed willing participants under law)), is Eroticism, erotic ma ...

with credit cards. Tim Allen was sentenced to

community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community contributing to a noble cause. In many cases, people doing community service are compensated in other ways, such as gettin ...

and placed on the sex offenders register after offering to pay €40,000 to a children's charity in India. Following Allen's conviction, the Ballymaloe cookery school announced that he would no longer be involved in the business. However, he remains involved.

Memberships

Member of Taste Council of Irish Food Board, Chair of Artisan Food Forum of Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Food Safety Consultative Council of Ireland, Trustee of Irish Organic Centre, Patron of Irish Seedsavers. Member of Eurotoques (European Association of Chefs), IWF (International Women's Federation), Network Ireland, Guild of Foodwriters in UK and Ireland, International SLOW Movement, Bread Bakers Guild of America, IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals – Darina Allen is a Certified Culinary Professional and Teacher and the school is accredited by IACP). Councillor for Ireland in Slow Food Movement and President of East Cork Convivium of Slow Food.

Awards and honours

*2013

Irish Book Awards The Irish Book Awards are Irish literary awards given annually to books and authors in various categories. It is the only literary award supported by all-Irish bookstores. The primary sponsor is An Post, the state owned postal service in Ireland ...

(Cookbook of the Year) for ''30 Years of Ballymaloe'' *2005 Cooking Teacher of the Year Award from IACP *2003 Honorary Degree from University of Ulster *2001 Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year *2000

Waterford Wedgwood Waterford Wedgwood plc was an Irish holding company for a group of firms that specialized in the manufacture of high-quality porcelain, bone china and glass products, mostly for use as tableware or home decor. The group was dominated by Irish bu ...

Hospitality Award *1996

Langhe Ceretto Prize The Langhe Ceretto Prize (, after Langhe region and Ceretto family of wine-makers) is a literary award, introduced in 1991 and bestowed by a jury of international experts to books dealing with food and viticulture Viticulture (, "vine-growing") ...

*1993 Laois Person of the Year *1992 Gilbeys Gold Medal for Catering Excellence jointly with Myrtle Allen *Fellow of Irish Hotel and Catering Institute

Bibliography

She has written a number of cookery books including: *''Simply Delicious'' *''Simply Delicious Christmas'' *''Simply Delicious in France and Italy'' *''Simply Delicious Fish'' *''Simply Delicious Versatile Vegetables'' *''Simply Delicious Meals in Minutes'' *''A Year at Ballymaloe Cookery School'' *''Forgotten Skills of Cooking'' * ''Irish Traditional Cooking''. Gill & Macmillan (Britain: Kyle Cathie)Mostly Food – Review of Irish Traditional Cooking
(Accessed 22 November 2011)

References

External links

Ballymaloe Cookery School Homepage
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Darina Living people 1948 births Broadcasters from County Laois Alumni of Dublin Institute of Technology Irish television chefs Broadcasters from County Cork Irish cookbook writers Irish women food writers Cooking educators