Darina Allen runs the world-renowned cookery school at Ballymaloe, which she founded in 1981 with her husband Tim Allen. She is Ireland's most famous tv-cook, having presented nine series of her cookery programme, 'Simply Delicious' on television around the world. She lectures and travels extensively in her role as chairman of the International Committee of the IACP (International Association of Cooking Professionals). She has been lauded as the food ambassador of Ireland and her outstanding work as both teacher and cook has firmly placed her on the international culinary map. Darina Allen is a tireless campaigner for local produce. She is a natural teacher, whose enthusiasm and energy for good things is quite contagious.