1 Neven Maguire Cookery School, Co Cavan
The Neven Maguire Cookery School in Blacklion hosts a range of exciting cookery classes for all skill levels. Classes feature demonstrations from Neven and his team, as well as tours of MacNean House and Restaurant’s extensive vegetable and herb collections with resident gardener, Kevin Ashley. Themes for courses include Entertainment Made Easy, Cooking for Friends and Family, Christmas Made Easy, a two-day Home Chef class and the popular Parent and Child class.
This one-day course, Eat Out At Home, €340, runs from 10am-4pm. The day includes all foods, a bespoke Cook With Neven Maguire apron along with a signed personalised cookbook and goodie bag. See nevenmaguire.com
2 Cloughan Farm and Cookery School, Co Longford
Fiona Egan and her husband Michael, Cloughan Farm and Cookery School, Co Longford.
Fiona Egan and Michael Farrell from Cloughan Farm and Cookery School run their enterprise in the heart of their working farm near Abbeyshrule, Co Longford. Fiona and Michael highlight the close connection from farm to table, not only growing their own fruit and vegetables, but also rearing Cloughan Farm grass-fed lamb and Dexter beef. Fiona and Michael offer a range of cookery courses, including Fiona’s popular Farm House Experiences, which take guests behind the scenes of the workings of the farm. Guests can visit the kitchen gardens, greenhouse and polytunnel, to see how their food is grown. In the kitchen, they create delicious, seasonal dishes, which everyone enjoys together.
Fiona’s Farm House Experiences, cookery classes and farm tours start from €130 pp. See fionaegan.com
3 Howth Castle Cookery School, Co Dublin
Sarah Hughes, head chef, John Carty, head chef, Ian Devine, chef tutor at Howth Castle Cookery School.
Situated within the enchanting 18th-century Georgian Howth Castle, the team of chefs at Howth Castle Cookery School provide immersive cooking classes. The kitchen is stocked with cutting-edge Gaggenau appliances and the classes showcase recipes from various corners of the world, allowing participants to immerse their taste buds in French food, Spanish food and Japanese street food. The teen and tween classes are a popular pick for young people who need to learn a few fail-safe recipes.
Sharing Platters for Family and Friends, €105. See howthcastlecookeryschool.ie
4 Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co Cork
Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe Cookery School.
Ballymaloe Cookery School offers a variety of different short and long courses for people to learn different cooking techniques and recipes. As well as lots of great recipes, you’ll come away with all sorts of tips and techniques. Award-winning Ballymaloe Cookery School has grown to become one of the most prestigious cookery schools in the world with a far-reaching network of students and alumni.
However, you don’t need to be a professional to take part. The Afternoon Demonstration Cookery Classes gives you a taster for just €85. Guests will get a copy of all recipes and tastings of all dishes at the end of the demonstration. You will be joining its main student body for this demonstration.
Afternoon Demonstration course, €85. See ballymaloecookeryschool.ie
5 Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, Co Down
Tracey Jeffares from Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen.
At Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, located on the shores of Strangford Lough, participants experience traditional Irish baking in a warm, welcoming environment.
Tracey Jeffares is an Irish bread maker, teaching classes from her 17th-century thatched cottage. Tracey teaches participants to make soda, wheaten and potato breads on a griddle – just like your great-grandmother would have done. Participants then enjoy their freshly baked goods together.
Tracey’s Traditional Irish Bread Making, (£65) €78. See traceysfarmhousekitchen.com
6 The Tannery Cookery School, Co Waterford
Chef Paul Flynn from The Tannery Cookery School.
Paul Flynn, a culinary expert with over 40 years’ of experience, runs The Tannery restaurant and cookery school in Dungarvan. Whether you’re a novice chef or an experienced cook, there are courses for all skill levels. Paul also hosts men-only cookery courses.
Known for his rich flavour combinations and simple cooking style, Paul’s focus is on how to teach dishes that can be easily recreated at home.
You can choose from a wide variety of different types of cookerycourses, from Cooking for Friends, €195 to Easy Entertaining, €95. See tannery.ie
7 Dingle Cookery School, Co Kerry
Mark Murphy from Dingle Cookery School.
Located in the colourful seaside town of Dingle, the ethos of the award-winning Dingle Cookery School is about cooking with confidence. Led by chef Mark Murphy, the school was awarded Best Cookery School in Ireland 2019 (Good Food Ireland Awards) and Culinary Experience of the Year 2020 (Travel and Hospitality Awards). Mark is passionate about promoting Irish ingredients, showing how our food is made and where it comes from.
One of the most popular classes is ‘Catch and Cook’, where participants go out on a fishing boat, bring back their bounty to prepare and cook it.
Become a Better Cook level one, €165. See dinglecookeryschool.com
8 Ballyknocken Cookery School, House and Farm, Co Wicklow
Catherine Fulvio from Ballyknocken Cookery School.
Located in a charming 19th-century Victorian farmhouse, Ballyknocken Cookery School is run by renowned TV chef Catherine Fulvio. Catherine, a Wicklow native, converted the old milking parlour into a cookery school over 20 years ago, and the setting is idyllic with lush gardens. The school was voted winner of the International Cordon D’Or Culinary Academy of the year in 2007.
The Irish Whiskey and Apricot Scone Making Experience, starts from €656.
This is a private group experience for two persons up to and including four people.
See ballyknocken.ie
1 Neven Maguire Cookery School, Co Cavan
The Neven Maguire Cookery School in Blacklion hosts a range of exciting cookery classes for all skill levels. Classes feature demonstrations from Neven and his team, as well as tours of MacNean House and Restaurant’s extensive vegetable and herb collections with resident gardener, Kevin Ashley. Themes for courses include Entertainment Made Easy, Cooking for Friends and Family, Christmas Made Easy, a two-day Home Chef class and the popular Parent and Child class.
This one-day course, Eat Out At Home, €340, runs from 10am-4pm. The day includes all foods, a bespoke Cook With Neven Maguire apron along with a signed personalised cookbook and goodie bag. See nevenmaguire.com
2 Cloughan Farm and Cookery School, Co Longford
Fiona Egan and her husband Michael, Cloughan Farm and Cookery School, Co Longford.
Fiona Egan and Michael Farrell from Cloughan Farm and Cookery School run their enterprise in the heart of their working farm near Abbeyshrule, Co Longford. Fiona and Michael highlight the close connection from farm to table, not only growing their own fruit and vegetables, but also rearing Cloughan Farm grass-fed lamb and Dexter beef. Fiona and Michael offer a range of cookery courses, including Fiona’s popular Farm House Experiences, which take guests behind the scenes of the workings of the farm. Guests can visit the kitchen gardens, greenhouse and polytunnel, to see how their food is grown. In the kitchen, they create delicious, seasonal dishes, which everyone enjoys together.
Fiona’s Farm House Experiences, cookery classes and farm tours start from €130 pp. See fionaegan.com
3 Howth Castle Cookery School, Co Dublin
Sarah Hughes, head chef, John Carty, head chef, Ian Devine, chef tutor at Howth Castle Cookery School.
Situated within the enchanting 18th-century Georgian Howth Castle, the team of chefs at Howth Castle Cookery School provide immersive cooking classes. The kitchen is stocked with cutting-edge Gaggenau appliances and the classes showcase recipes from various corners of the world, allowing participants to immerse their taste buds in French food, Spanish food and Japanese street food. The teen and tween classes are a popular pick for young people who need to learn a few fail-safe recipes.
Sharing Platters for Family and Friends, €105. See howthcastlecookeryschool.ie
4 Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co Cork
Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe Cookery School.
Ballymaloe Cookery School offers a variety of different short and long courses for people to learn different cooking techniques and recipes. As well as lots of great recipes, you’ll come away with all sorts of tips and techniques. Award-winning Ballymaloe Cookery School has grown to become one of the most prestigious cookery schools in the world with a far-reaching network of students and alumni.
However, you don’t need to be a professional to take part. The Afternoon Demonstration Cookery Classes gives you a taster for just €85. Guests will get a copy of all recipes and tastings of all dishes at the end of the demonstration. You will be joining its main student body for this demonstration.
Afternoon Demonstration course, €85. See ballymaloecookeryschool.ie
5 Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, Co Down
Tracey Jeffares from Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen.
At Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, located on the shores of Strangford Lough, participants experience traditional Irish baking in a warm, welcoming environment.
Tracey Jeffares is an Irish bread maker, teaching classes from her 17th-century thatched cottage. Tracey teaches participants to make soda, wheaten and potato breads on a griddle – just like your great-grandmother would have done. Participants then enjoy their freshly baked goods together.
Tracey’s Traditional Irish Bread Making, (£65) €78. See traceysfarmhousekitchen.com
6 The Tannery Cookery School, Co Waterford
Chef Paul Flynn from The Tannery Cookery School.
Paul Flynn, a culinary expert with over 40 years’ of experience, runs The Tannery restaurant and cookery school in Dungarvan. Whether you’re a novice chef or an experienced cook, there are courses for all skill levels. Paul also hosts men-only cookery courses.
Known for his rich flavour combinations and simple cooking style, Paul’s focus is on how to teach dishes that can be easily recreated at home.
You can choose from a wide variety of different types of cookerycourses, from Cooking for Friends, €195 to Easy Entertaining, €95. See tannery.ie
7 Dingle Cookery School, Co Kerry
Mark Murphy from Dingle Cookery School.
Located in the colourful seaside town of Dingle, the ethos of the award-winning Dingle Cookery School is about cooking with confidence. Led by chef Mark Murphy, the school was awarded Best Cookery School in Ireland 2019 (Good Food Ireland Awards) and Culinary Experience of the Year 2020 (Travel and Hospitality Awards). Mark is passionate about promoting Irish ingredients, showing how our food is made and where it comes from.
One of the most popular classes is ‘Catch and Cook’, where participants go out on a fishing boat, bring back their bounty to prepare and cook it.
Become a Better Cook level one, €165. See dinglecookeryschool.com
8 Ballyknocken Cookery School, House and Farm, Co Wicklow
Catherine Fulvio from Ballyknocken Cookery School.
Located in a charming 19th-century Victorian farmhouse, Ballyknocken Cookery School is run by renowned TV chef Catherine Fulvio. Catherine, a Wicklow native, converted the old milking parlour into a cookery school over 20 years ago, and the setting is idyllic with lush gardens. The school was voted winner of the International Cordon D’Or Culinary Academy of the year in 2007.
The Irish Whiskey and Apricot Scone Making Experience, starts from €656.
This is a private group experience for two persons up to and including four people.
See ballyknocken.ie
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