Ballymaloe empire founder, 88, happy with performance

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.

Mrs Allen was commenting on accounts filed by Yeats Room Ltd, the firm behind the award-winning 32-bedroom Ballymaloe House, that show the company incurred a modest loss of €21,364 in the 12 months to Oct 31 last.

The firm had accumulated profits of €2.3m at year end and Mrs Allen said: “Business has been good over the past year, we keep ticking over here.”

Due to celebrate her 89th birthday next month, Mrs Allen said she continues to play an active role in the business. “I’m looking after the business today.”

Mrs Allen has overseen the growth of Ballymaloe since 1964. It has spawned a cookery school operated by daughter-in-law Darina Allen, and the Ballymaloe Country Relish business run by daughter, Yasmin Hyde.

Mrs Allen said: “Everyone has got a slice of the cake — we are not millionaires out of it.”

Mrs Allen said Ballymaloe Country House “has been very successful in the English market. English visitors have been a great help to business”.

Mrs Allen said it is too soon to suggest there will be an increase in business in 2013.

A note attached to the accounts states that the continued reduction in the Irish economy resulted in the company recording the loss last year. “The directors are engaged in ongoing actions to ensure the company’s cost base is consistent with its current turnover.

“After taking current factors into account, the directors have looked forward and believe the company can generate a satisfactory outcome in the year Oct 31, 2013. This, however, is particularly dependent on revenue targets being met.”