A new book celebrates the pioneering educators who founded Cork’s Scoil Mhuire, writes Ellie O’Byrne, where past pupils include actress Fiona Shaw, knitwear designer Bébhinn Marten and TV presenter Clodagh McKenna.

Five events going on around the country this week. 

More than 50,000 music fans will this weekend converge on Laois village Stradbally for Electric Picnic, the 13th outing of the music and arts festival.

WHEN superfit Clodagh McKenna started spinning classes in a Manhattan high-octane studio she was floored by the speed.

The world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School served up tasty profits last year as they nearly topped €180,000.

Teenagers who use seaweed to produce treats were last night named Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year in a competition organised and run by Foróige. The four teenagers from Co Donegal — Mary Kate Carr, Aimee Byrne, Rebecca McShane and Ronan O’Hare were honoured at a Mansion House, Dublin ceremony.

RUTH Field and her formidable alter-ego, the Grit Doctor, have made a name for themselves as tough-talking, no-nonsense kind of gals. 

The founder of an animal rescue centre fears the shelter will be forced to close due to mounting costs and debts.

OUR grandmother’s liking for carrageen moss was looked upon as a sort of an oddity, says Donal Hickey.

Kitty Scully takes a closer look at Michael Kelly’s ‘Grow Cook Eat’ which is packed with everything you need to know about how to grow, harvest and cook your own vegetables as well as celebrity chef recipes too.

WORLD tennis number one Novak Djokovic is a man who knows a lot about discipline.

While The Menu’s Teddy Bear still occasionally sends a card on the odd Christmas, it is many a long year since they have enjoyed a jorum let alone a cuddle.

As the winner of last night’s The Great Irish Bake Off enthuses about her future plans, Denise O’Donoghue hears from other cookery title holders about the hard work and focus needed to succeed

The big event food event of this weekend is a rather stellar demo line-up including Ross Lewis, Frankie Mallon, Derry Clarke, Darina Allen and Rachel Allen in the Chef’s Kitchen at the Westport Music Festival.

The second Kerrygold Ballymaloe Litfest of Food & Wine ended last night where it all began just 48 hours previously, in the ‘Big Shed’ at Ballymaloe House in East Cork.

Limerick’s reputation as a rising star of city tourism will be further cemented this weekend as the 10th Riverfest is set to bring more than 50,000 people into the city.

She began her career at the Ballymaloe Cookery School. Now the owner of a chain of Mexican restaurants in London, Thomasina Miers is returning to her roots for the Litfest.

The Menu is glad to see the poor benighted banks being afforded some well-deserved TLC with a clutch of their very own holidays arriving in quick succession and he shall pass the next in Lovely Limerick, enjoying the exceedingly family-friendly Riverfest (May 2-5).

Mad Hatters in Kinsale

He’s kicked a record number of penalty kicks, drop kicks and conversions over the bar. But Irish rugby legend Ronan O’Gara, 36, hit the side of a bar yesterday as a very special photographic exhibition was unveiled across Cork City.

Should you find yourself at the Electric Picnic this weekend, do swing by the Theatre of Food (www.electricpicnic.ie/food).

THERE are billions of flavours in this world, but when it comes to selling food, only one ingredient seems to matter: celebrity.

IF the Devil wears Prada, then God must shop in LK Bennett — alongside Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.

FOR an island nation, we sure took our time getting to grips with seafood.

OUT of the blue a few months ago, I got an email from an enthusiastic girl who had just started a new business called The Cookbook Club based in Dublin, but also online. She went on to give me some background in her inimitable breathless way.

Grow It Yourself week begins today with a variety of activities for anyone interested in learning about growing their own vegetables.

LEADING chef and television presenter Clodagh McKenna has warned that the Government’s U-turn on genetically modified (GM) foods will damage Ireland’s reputation.

Kildare: Business celebrities are lined up to feature at next month’s business summit at the K-Club in Co Kildare under the theme: “Growing Your Business Through Recession”.

AT LAST, restaurants are reporting an increased appetite for eating out; perhaps those green shoots really are sprouting. I’ve had several requests from readers for an update on the London food scene. Lots of good things are happening over there – despite the cautious atmosphere, many young people are “chomping at the bit” to open cafes, restaurants and gastro pubs.

A COOK book specifically focused on the needs of people on dialysis treatment has been launched by a Cork-based survivor of life-threatening kidney disease.

EVERYWHERE I go, every dinner party, every pub, every chance meeting, the topic of conversation is always the same — recessionary chit-chat and endless whinging about the hopeless ineffectual politicians.

A GROUP will be launched nationwide next month to encourage people to grow their own food.

A NATIONAL not-for-profit organisation hoping to inspire and educate people to grow their own food is to be launched at the Waterford Harvest Festival in September.

Easter Apple Trees: Instead of an Easter Egg, one of our teachers at Ballymaloe, Florrie Cullinane, gave each of her children an apple tree to plant — a huge success — they got plenty of Easter Eggs from other people.

IRELAND’S largest Slow Food festival got under way last night and is set to welcome celebrity chefs, politicians, food experts and thousands of visitors to the south-east in the coming days.

IT has all the ingredients to be one of the country’s tastiest festivals this year.

THE organisers of Charleville’s two-day agricultural show this coming Saturday and Sunday are planning to seduce the taste buds of visitors.

IRISH consumers spent €66 million on organic food in 2006 according to figures revealed yesterday, but scientists are warning that it could be a waste of money.

THE impact of rising feed costs on farming will be discussed at a seminar which the Irish Examiner will stage at the national ploughing championships at Annaharvey, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on Thursday next.

Ireland’s first Harvest Feast will open in Co Leitrim later today.

Fresh from the Farmers Market, the 8-part series sponsored by Bord Bia will start next Wednesday, at 7.30pm on RTE 1. The Irish Farmers’ Market Cookbook by Clodagh McKenna, published by Collins to accompany the series, is already in the shops.