Sinéad Delahunty does not do anything by half measures.
She’s just released her first cookbook, Delalicious, works full-time as a physiotherapist, plays club football, is preparing for a summer of food demonstrations… “And I have the silage coming up,” laughs the 27-year-old, who is originally from a beef and tillage farm in Co Tipperary.
And perhaps that is the appeal of the blogger-turned-author and her recipes: the fact that it’s real food for real life. 
“You don’t have to be running to the shop to get 10 things to make one recipe,” she says of her no-fuss approach.
“And then the other aspect is that I feel I’m a portrayal of a typical person at home. I’m working full-time, I play a lot of sport, I try and look after my body – and I like food.”
One of three children raised in Fethard, Sinead’s parents, Mary and Eamonn, run a beef farm, as well as growing spring barley, corn and oats, all of which she describes as a “cornerstone of my entire life”.
“I’ve always known where food came from at a very young age and the time and work that goes into producing the elements on your plate isn’t easy or isn’t quick, but it can be achieved in a really sustainable way,” she explains. 
Sport was also an important part of her childhood, though she argues that she “definitely struggled” to hone the skills that would later see her line out for Tipperary at inter-county level.
“Growing up with my two brothers, I was the girl stuck in goals,” she says wryly.
“It took hours – it still takes hours – and anyone that will play alongside me will probably describe me as a hard worker and that’s what I would describe myself as.
“And I think most people, they might have talent but the work they put into that talent is where they reap the benefits from.”
Highlights of her sporting career have included winning the Intermediate All-Ireland final in 2008, as well as back-to-back Dublin senior county and Leinster championships with her current club, Foxrock-Cabinteely.
However, Sinéad also explains that she is grateful for the many lessons she has learned from losing on the pitch.
“Defeats make you a stronger player and person and a team, so it’s about taking them on,” she reasons.
“And when you look back, it’s sometimes about things that were outside of your control; but it’s how you dealt with them can help improve you for the future.”
After school, Sinéad studied physiotherapy at UCD and now works at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. Given her lifelong passion for food, however, in 2015 she started her blog, Delalicious, after her brother “wore me down with persuasion” to share her favourite recipes.
Within a few months, she was selected to represent Ireland at the Cono Sur Food Bloggers final in Paris and shortly afterwards was approached by The Collins Press to write her first cookbook.
“It was a huge challenge, it was a huge opportunity and I suppose I’ve done it, so it’s definitely a massive sense of achievement,” says Sinéad of the finished product (see selected recipes).
While respectful of other people’s dietary choices, Sinéad is a fan of “real, wholesome and natural” ingredients, adding that she really appreciated the quality of Irish produce while on a year out globetrotting.
“I think probably travelling has brought home to me how good our products are here in Ireland,” she says. “I’m a big fan of dairy, absolutely love it. I could not live without yoghurts and milk!”
Plans for the summer include catering for a retreat, as well as cooking live at Electric Picnic.
“I was there only in 2016 as an attendee, so it will be mad now to see myself on the stage,” she says.
And, of course, not forgetting her all-important silage commitments on the farm.
“You just have to muck in,” laughs Sinéad.
Read more
Nessa Robins' cholesterol lowering recipes
Sinéad Delahunty does not do anything by half measures.
She’s just released her first cookbook, Delalicious, works full-time as a physiotherapist, plays club football, is preparing for a summer of food demonstrations… “And I have the silage coming up,” laughs the 27-year-old, who is originally from a beef and tillage farm in Co Tipperary.
And perhaps that is the appeal of the blogger-turned-author and her recipes: the fact that it’s real food for real life.
“You don’t have to be running to the shop to get 10 things to make one recipe,” she says of her no-fuss approach.
“And then the other aspect is that I feel I’m a portrayal of a typical person at home. I’m working full-time, I play a lot of sport, I try and look after my body – and I like food.”
One of three children raised in Fethard, Sinead’s parents, Mary and Eamonn, run a beef farm, as well as growing spring barley, corn and oats, all of which she describes as a “cornerstone of my entire life”.
“I’ve always known where food came from at a very young age and the time and work that goes into producing the elements on your plate isn’t easy or isn’t quick, but it can be achieved in a really sustainable way,” she explains.
Sport was also an important part of her childhood, though she argues that she “definitely struggled” to hone the skills that would later see her line out for Tipperary at inter-county level.
“Growing up with my two brothers, I was the girl stuck in goals,” she says wryly.
“It took hours – it still takes hours – and anyone that will play alongside me will probably describe me as a hard worker and that’s what I would describe myself as.
“And I think most people, they might have talent but the work they put into that talent is where they reap the benefits from.”
Highlights of her sporting career have included winning the Intermediate All-Ireland final in 2008, as well as back-to-back Dublin senior county and Leinster championships with her current club, Foxrock-Cabinteely.
However, Sinéad also explains that she is grateful for the many lessons she has learned from losing on the pitch.
“Defeats make you a stronger player and person and a team, so it’s about taking them on,” she reasons.
“And when you look back, it’s sometimes about things that were outside of your control; but it’s how you dealt with them can help improve you for the future.”
After school, Sinéad studied physiotherapy at UCD and now works at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. Given her lifelong passion for food, however, in 2015 she started her blog, Delalicious, after her brother “wore me down with persuasion” to share her favourite recipes.
Within a few months, she was selected to represent Ireland at the Cono Sur Food Bloggers final in Paris and shortly afterwards was approached by The Collins Press to write her first cookbook.
“It was a huge challenge, it was a huge opportunity and I suppose I’ve done it, so it’s definitely a massive sense of achievement,” says Sinéad of the finished product (see selected recipes).
While respectful of other people’s dietary choices, Sinéad is a fan of “real, wholesome and natural” ingredients, adding that she really appreciated the quality of Irish produce while on a year out globetrotting.
“I think probably travelling has brought home to me how good our products are here in Ireland,” she says. “I’m a big fan of dairy, absolutely love it. I could not live without yoghurts and milk!”
Plans for the summer include catering for a retreat, as well as cooking live at Electric Picnic.
“I was there only in 2016 as an attendee, so it will be mad now to see myself on the stage,” she says.
And, of course, not forgetting her all-important silage commitments on the farm.
“You just have to muck in,” laughs Sinéad.
Read more
Nessa Robins' cholesterol lowering recipes
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