MC & Guest Speaker
As an experienced MC, I bring every cookery demonstration to life through lively banter with chefs, dynamic stage energy, and genuine audience participation—skills honed from years as a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, former owner of an acclaimed café, senior teacher at Ballymaloe Cookery School, and trained executive coach. My background empowers me to create seamless, skill-focused demos where chefs shine, audiences get involved, and every event feels memorable, interactive, and fun.
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Since stepping into the role of MC in 2021, I’ve enjoyed a thrilling journey that’s opened countless doors to unique and engaging culinary experiences. Over the past five years, I’ve been privileged to organise and MC the Cookery Demonstrations at the renowned Ballymaloe Festival of Food. Working alongside brilliant chefs from Ireland and all over the globe to plan their live stage moments—sourcing specialised ingredients, ensuring everything runs smoothly, and elevating the festival experience while engaging with each chef throughout their demonstrations to ensure lively chat and good energy is delivered—has brought immense satisfaction and rich professional growth.
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My commitment to inclusive food events is strengthened by my three-year MC tenure for the Coeliac Society’s Annual Gluten Free Roadshow. Engaging with attendees, hearing their inspiring gluten-free stories, and learning about the realities faced by those with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease keeps me passionate about making dining safer and more enjoyable for everyone. With gluten-related issues now impacting 1 in 5 people in Ireland, I’m constantly deepening my expertise to better serve businesses and their customers.
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I’m proud to have facilitated vibrant skills showcases for The Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland, including hosting competitive butchery events and acting as a judge for the National Irish Steak Challenge—celebrating top craftsmanship and innovation in Irish butchery. Because of these connections, I was a Steak Championship Judge 2025 and what an enlightening journey that was. Huge congratulations to the worthy winners.
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My MC role for the Taste of Sligo Food Festival allows me to connect food lovers with Sligo’s & Ireland's award-winning, outstanding chefs, producers, and lively local food culture. Showcasing both local talent and visiting culinary stars, I curate memorable moments live on stage with culinary heroes in the heart of Sligo that highlight the region’s rich traditions and new food trends, always energising the demo stage and bringing the festival’s vision to life.
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At Flavours of Fingal 2025, I was absolutely thrilled to be an MC for the show’s food circle cookery programme at Newbridge House & Farm, engaging audiences with top Irish chefs, hands-on demos, and meaningful artisan producer stories. Ireland’s largest family-friendly county show welcomes over 65,000 visitors for a weekend of spectacular entertainment, delicious local produce, and dynamic community spirit—making it an unmissable platform for collaboration and creative partnership.
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I proudly continue as the lead MC for Savour Kilkenny’s Taste Stage, where I select and welcome up to ten of Ireland’s most talented chefs each year. This curatorial role allows me to bring both rising stars and established culinary leaders to the spotlight, creating a dynamic and inspiring lineup for festival audiences. I also host Foodpreneurs live demonstrations in partnership with LEO Kilkenny, fostering an open, collaborative space where food entrepreneurs and business founders come together to share insights, discuss their journeys, and spark new ventures.
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Collaborating with passionate individuals across these festivals and events is always rewarding, and I’m eager to forge new partnerships and innovative collaborations with chefs, brands, sponsors, and organisers. If you’re looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated MC who thrives on elevating food events and connecting communities, let’s work together to create something truly memorable.
Reach out any time at [tracie@traciedaly.com].
Speaker
With first-hand experience owning, operating, and even gracefully closing an award-winning café, I bring unmatched empathy, industry insight, and real-world understanding to every stage I host. I know the triumphs and the heartaches of food businesses—because I’ve lived them—and I channel that authenticity and passion into every event. If given the chance, I’d do it all again, because the journey of owning and running an award-winning cafe has shaped my expertise and made me a truly relatable, energetic, and knowledgeable MC for any food festival.
To love and lose can make you or break you!
My journey has shaped me into the advisor, advocate, mentor, and coach I wished for when I was at my lowest—sitting on the bakery kitchen floor, surrounded by combi ovens and stainless steel, facing immense challenges. As a senior teacher at the world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School, a trained chef, a previous award-winning café owner, and a multi-award-winning food business coach, I’ve experienced the highs of niche success and the hard decisions demanded by a changing economy.
When the recession hit, I made a values-driven, strategic choice to close my business, ensuring every supplier, team member, and bank was paid in full. Integrity led every step, a legacy gifted to me by my late father, Malachy Daly. I know now that these challenges were essential—they taught me resilience, compassion, and the importance of principled leadership, and I bring those insights to every client and event I support.
Mindset is the secret ingredient to success
Rising from challenges with a renewed sense of purpose, I’m driven to teach, inspire, and spark lively discussion as a dynamic MC. My bold, values-led approach is grounded in years of business expertise, and my goal is to add genuine value to every festival—helping small business owners learn, adapt, and thrive. My experience fuels energetic dialogue and open conversations on stage, addressing business hurdles, resilience, and the mindset shifts needed for success.
Let’s collaborate to bring honest, insightful, and inspiring conversations to your audience—encouraging everyone to think outside the box, push through challenges, and step confidently beyond their comfort zones.