‘Tis a great day for the parish!
Ballymaloe House Hotel, one of Ireland’s most celebrated country-house and dining destinations, has received international recognition through its inclusion on Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘Goop’ seasonal gift guide.
The hotel was selected by Goop editors in its “The Forward-to-Your-SO” gift guide, alongside other brands including Chanel, Rolex and Birkin. The celebrated Goop guide is curated by the website’s editors to suggest meaningful presents for the people who have everything.
Ballymaloe House Hotel began with the late great Myrtle Allen, a trailblazer who made a lasting contribution to Irish cuisine. Myrtle Allen, who was a self-taught cook, opened a restaurant in her dining room in Ballymaloe House in 1964, at a time when it was unusual to see pioneering women in business. Myrtle went on to become the first female chef in Ireland to be awarded a Michelin Star.
Ballymaloe House Hotel also holds true to its tradition of female leadership in the present day; with Laura Behan as General Manager, Dervilla O’Flynn as Head Chef; Fern Allen is House Manager and Roisin Berner is Housekeeping Manager.
Meanwhile Lyndsay Greer-Cashman is Front of House Manager, Daphne Spillane is Reservations & Revenue Manager; Helen Cuddigan is Marketing & Digital Manager and their Head Gardener is Mags Coughlan. Bree Allen heads up the Ballymaloe Grainstore, a hugely successful events venue on the grounds of Ballymaloe House and Chloe Taberman recently joined the team as Events Manager.
The “Goop” website links to Ballymaloe House, and says “the real draw at this charming, plush country house hotel” is the “farm to fork dining”.
Helen Cuddigan, Marketing and Digital Manager of Ballymaloe House Hotel, said, “While Ballymaloe House Hotel proudly stands on its own reputation, to be recognised in Goop’s seasonal gift guide will bring what we do to an entire new audience. We look forward to a busy 2024 season, welcoming back returning guests, and our newer ones.”