CIT and English Market Traders have come together to host a cookery demonstration on May 1st in aid of Cork Penny Dinners.

Staff and students at the Department of Tourism and Hospitality in CIT are delighted to welcome guest chef Rory O’Connell to create a four-course meal using local produce from Cork’s English Market.

Rory has spent more than twenty years cooking in the world’s finest restaurants. He was also Head Chef at Ballymaloe House for ten years. He has addressed both the hospitality and tourism industry at home and abroad in countries as diverse as Greece, South Africa, Italy, Denmark and Britain. Today, Rory teaches at Ballymaloe Cookery School while consulting for other restaurants throughout the country. He also provides a wide range of bespoke cookery classes at his 18th century farmhouse near Shanagarry, in East Cork.

Cork Penny Dinners is one of Cork’s oldest charities serving meals to people in need in Cork since the 1840s. Penny Dinners offers a nourishing hot midday meal (plus a packet of sandwiches and some fresh fruit to take home for the evening) to all those in need, in exchange for a small coin. Approximately 850 meals are cooked and served every week, originally for one penny, now the rough equivalent. Penny Dinners is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and run by a voluntary, multi-denominational, Committee.

Dr Margaret Linehan, Head of School of Humanities in CIT said: “We are delighted to establish a link with the English Market traders and we hope that this event will be the start of a very productive partnership with the traders. We have lots more ideas for collaboration and believe that our students will greatly benefit from the diverse experiences provided by the traders. The cookery demonstration will also allow some of our students to work with Chef Rory thereby gaining invaluable experience. We are very pleased to support one of Cork’s oldest charities, Penny Dinners.”