- Rory O’Connell has received the 2026 Listowel Food Fair Lifetime Achievement Award
- The award was presented by Jimmy Deenihan
- O’Connell co-founded Ballymaloe Cookery School in 1985
- He served as Head Chef at Ballymaloe House for ten years
- He was named Ireland’s Chef of the Year on two occasions
TV Chef, Food Author and co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School Rory O’Connell has received the 2026 Listowel Food Fair Lifetime Achievement Award. Rory O’Connell was presented with the award by Jimmy Deenihan at the Gourmet Fashion and Food event hosted at the Listowel Arms Hotel as one of the festival highlights. He was recognised for his significant lifetime contribution to Irish culinary arts, Irish culinary education, emerging artisan food producers and the promotion of Irish Food internationally.
Former Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Jimmy Deenihan reported that the award recognises Rory O’Connell’s lifetime dedication and significant contribution to Irish food. He noted that as co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School in 1985 alongside his sister Darina Allen Rory O’Connell has spent his lifetime supporting and developing generations of young chefs while cementing Ireland’s reputation on the world stage of food.
Reading a specially prepared citation Listowel Food Fair Committee Member Mairead Moriarty congratulated Rory O’Connell for his achievements highlighting that he trained with Myrtle Allen at Ballymaloe House where he served as Head Chef for ten years. It was at Ballymaloe House where his execution of farm to table cuisine earned him the accolade of Ireland’s Chef of the Year on two occasions. Rory O’Connell now joins an elite list of previous recipients including Denis Brosnan, John O’Connor, Francis Brennan, Georgina Campbell, Darina Allen and Kevin Dundon.
Jimmy Deenihan shared “On behalf of the Listowel Food Fair I would like to recognize and thank Rory O’Connell for his lifetime dedication and significant contribution to Irish food. Tonight, we celebrate Rory O’Connell’s great achievements as one of Ireland’s most respected culinary figures, widely celebrated as a chef, teacher, television presenter and award winning author.”
