It features daily menus and inherited family recipe books, with clippings of restaurant reviews and letters of advice to young chefs served on the side, all garnished with photographs and files reflecting her wide range of personal interests.

We will do our utmost to carry on her incredible legacy.

The 88-year old founder of the Ballymaloe food empire, Myrtle Allen, said yesterday she is “very happy” with how Cork’s Ballymaloe House performed last year.