Ballymaloe Cookery School

The Ballymaloe Cookery School (ba-lee-ma-LOO) 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. The school is located within the grounds of an organic farm.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Ballymaloe Cookery School

Kitchen garden at Ballymaloe, County Cork
Established	1983
Focus	Cookery school
Owner	Allen family
Location	Shanagarry, County Cork , Ireland
Coordinates	51.8596°N 8.0320°W / 51.8596; -8.0320

History

The modern, formal herb garden at Ballymaloe Cookery School

Myrtle Allen and her husband Ivan bought Ballymaloe House in 1948, and opened it as a restaurant in 1964.^[7][8] In 1968, Darina O'Connell joined them and taught and cooked for several years.^[8] In 1975, Myrtle Allen became the first Irish woman to receive a Michelin Star, which she held for five years.^[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.^[9][8] Ballymaloe Cookery School is located approximately 4 km from Ballymaloe House.

Celebrity chef Rachel Allen also has a connection to Ballymaloe.^[10] She graduated from the school and is married to Isaac Allen, the son of Darina Allen.

As of 2023, the school was majority owned by Darina Allen.^[11]

Controversy

Tim Allen conviction

Tim Allen, husband of Darina, was convicted of possessing child abuse images in 2003.^[12] There were almost 1000 images, some of children as young as five in sexual poses.^[13][14][15] The images were recovered from his home computer as well as computers at the school.^[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.^[12] This substitution followed an agreement by Allen to contribute €40,000 to charity.^[12][16] Some people phoned Ballymaloe to say they would never dine there again.^[17]

In January 2003, the Allen family announced that Tim Allen would cease all connections with Ballymaloe Cookery School, Ballymaloe House Hotel and all related businesses. ^[18] The family also stated their abhorrence of any material containing child abuse and expressed regret at anyone who had been hurt by it.^[17] However, Tim Allen is currently^[when?] an active instructor at Ballymaloe Cookery School.^{[19][failed verification]}

The grounds of Ballymaloe House are home to a preschool, ECO Preschool.^[20]

Joshua Allen convictions

Joshua Allen, eldest son of Rachel Allen, was found to be in possession of over €22,000 worth of cannabis at the cooking school in August 2018.^[21][22][23] Customs officers intercepted a package containing cannabis on 27 August 2018.^[22] The package was postmarked from the US and addressed to Joshua Allen at the cookery school.^[22] Gardaí organised a controlled delivery of the package to the cookery school on 30 August 2018, and the teenager was arrested after receiving and opening the package.^[22] He was jailed after pleading guilty to possession of controlled substances.^[22][21][23] He was released early from Cork Prison in May 2020 and within five weeks was arrested for possession of €280 worth of cocaine and sentenced to two months in prison (which could result in the suspended portion of the 15 month cannabis conviction being activated).^[24][25]

COVID-19 lockdown

In February 2021, the cookery school was criticised after it was revealed that an in-person cookery course had been held during Level 5 lockdown – in apparent conflict with the banning of organised gatherings and closure of restaurants and training events.^[26][27][28] An Garda Síochána announced that they had visited the school in February.^[27][26] Darina Allen defended the school, saying the students in question had arrived in Ireland by late December and the lockdown had been announced on 30 December, starting the next day.^[27][28] The course began after students self-isolated for 14 days,^[27][28] and was modified after the lockdown was extended in late January.^[27][28]

Further reading

• Darina Allen A Year at Ballymaloe Cookery School (2007) ISBN 9781904920588