Ballymaloe House Hotel's Hazel Allen dies, aged 73

Hazel Allen at a 2018 celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Blue Book guide to historic guesthouses and restaurants which she co-founded. Picture: Eddie O'Hare/Irish Examiner

Hazel Allen, who ran the popular Ballymaloe House Hotel for many years, has died after a long illness.

As well as running the famous East Cork hotel since the 1970s, the 73-year-old was also one of the founders of Ireland's Blue Book guide to historic guesthouses and restaurants.