MC & Cookery Demo Host
​
MC & Cookery Demo Host
I’m an experienced MC and food business coach who brings cookery demonstrations to life with sharp banter, strong stage presence, and real audience connection. With a background as a multi‑award‑winning entrepreneur, accomplished café owner, Ballymaloe Cookery School teacher, and trained executive coach, I create fast‑paced, chef‑focused demos where talent shines and audiences get involved.
Since 2021, I’ve hosted standout food events across Ireland—curating line‑ups, supporting chefs behind the scenes, sourcing great ingredients, and delivering smooth, engaging stage experiences.
At the Ballymaloe Festival of Food, I lead chef demos with dynamic conversation, audience interaction, and a clear sense of the festival’s vision.
I’m the long‑standing MC for the Coeliac Society of Ireland’s Annual Gluten Free Roadshow, connecting with thousands of attendees, learning real stories, and championing safer, more inclusive dining as gluten intolerance continues to rise.
My work with Associated Irish Craft Butchers includes hosting competitive showcase events and judging both the National Irish Steak Challenge and the Steak Championship 2025, celebrating innovation and excellence in the sector.
As MC for Taste of Sligo Food Festival, I spotlight award‑winning chefs, passionate producers, and the vibrancy of local food culture—creating memorable, collaborative on‑stage moments.
At Flavours of Fingal 2025 at Newbridge House & Farm, I hosted the Food Circle Cookery Programme, engaging 65,000+ visitors across a weekend of demos and chef showcases at Ireland’s largest family‑friendly county show.
I continue as lead MC for Savour Kilkenny’s Taste Stage, welcoming ten of Ireland’s top chefs annually. I also host Foodpreneurs Live demos with LEO Kilkenny, creating an open, energised space for food founders to connect and inspire.
​
If you’re looking for an enthusiastic, professional MC who elevates food events, champions chefs, and keeps audiences buzzing—let’s create something unforgettable together.
​​
​
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.