Darina to get top business award

DARINA ALLEN will be presented with a prestigious business award tomorrow night.

The woman behind the internationally-renowned cookery school, Ballymaloe House in East Cork, the TV presenter and best-selling author, will be named Cork Business Person of the Month Award for January 2006.

She was nominated for the award by more than 40 readers of Business Cork magazine.

Michael Mulcahy of Business Cork said many of her nominations came from the East Cork area.

“Darina was chosen for her culinary expertise, for her dedication to the development of tourism and the food industry, her marketing and development of Ballymaloe House and specifically her interest in developing and promoting Cork,” he said.

The awards scheme is organised by Business Cork in association with The Imperial Hotel.

Ms Allen will accept the award from Lord Mayor Cllr Deirdre Clune at a ceremony at the hotel tomorrow evening.

The overall Cork Business Person of the Year award will be announced on November 25.

The judges will be Bill Holohan of Bill Holohan & Associates Solicitors, Ronnie O’Driscoll, BOI, Rory Conlon, Advanced Laser Systems, James O’Sullivan of M&P O’Sullivan and Tom Leahy of Ulster Bank.