Gillian Hegarty is an accomplished and talented chef who has worked in many top restaurants including Paul Rankins Cayenne, River café in London and head chef in Ballymaloe house. She now teaches cookery workshops in various primary schools in Clonakilty, passing on her enthusiasm and love for local seasonal produce and giving children the confidence and excitement to cook themselves.

She is currently involved in a project to improve food literacy that hopes to encourage policy makers to introduce cooking as part of the curriculum.

Gillian and Melissa Byrne have launched an initiative called the “Kids food revolution” which aims to start a conversation about the food environment surrounding children and to make positive changes together.

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