Peter Dowdall talks to top garden designer Paul Martin about his latest accolade — a gold medal at Singapore.

CELEBRATING a 40-year anniversary in a business is a great reason to celebrate, but in the case of chef, restaurateur and bar owner, Finín O’Sullivan, he’s using the occasion as a chance to retire, and bow out gracefully, having seen the East Cork town of Midleton come of age during his tenure at the famed Main Street premises.

The students at Ballymaloe Cookery School are piled into the demo theatre on a dark, cold November afternoon to see Rory O’Connell and his sister, Darina Allen, give a traditional Thanksgiving dinner masterclass.