The Centre of Food & Culture, Boyne Value is a social enterprise and is structured as a company limited by guarantee, It is our intention to seek charitable status for the company.
The memorandum and articles of association of the company have been given careful consideration to ensure that the organisation fulfils the mission and vision of the founders and enables the development and evolution of stakeholders in the long term.
Thank you to the founding members of The Centre of Food Culture, Boyne Valley, who dedicate their time to guiding the development and vision for The Centre of Food Culture, Boyne Valley, on a voluntary basis. This founding group are made up of talented and passionate food and drinks producers, chefs and entrepreneurs operating successful businesses locally, nationally and internationally.
Olivia is Sales and Marketing Director of the Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells. With her husband Eoin, they produce ethically reared free range Bronze Turkey and Geese at Maperath Farm. Olivia acts as a food tourism consultant to small business working on food strategy, food tourism and network development. A co-founder of the Boyne Valley Food Series, she took an active role in the development of the Boyne Valley Flavours Brand which won Foodie Destination in 2019. With a background in International hotel and event management and a Masters Degree in Tourism Management, Olivia previously lectured in Event Management and Marketing at Dublin Business School and was an advisory Board Member on the Masters of Gastronomy at TUD. As a Fáilte Ireland Irish Food Champion for 9 years, Olivia travelled globally researching and benchmarking best practices in Food Tourism.Olivia was awarded Meath Business Ambassador in 2018 and the RAI Leinster Local Food Hero Award in 2019. The RAI Awarded Olivia with the coveted Mike Butt Award, for her overall contribution to Irish Food and Tourism in 2022.
Co-founder and Managing Director of Sheridans Cheesemongers Ltd. Chair of Boyne Valley Flavours Steering Committee Chair of the TASTE Council of Ireland 2013 to 2018. Member of the FSAI Artisan Forum Sheridans Cheesemongers is one of the most recognised brands in Irish Food. With over 100 employees, the company operates many retail outlets in Ireland, mixing independent stores with concessions in large retailers. Sheridans are a leading wholesale supplier of cheese and speciality foods to Irish independent retail and also export cheeses and crackers to the UK, Europe,USA & Australia. Sheridans have received numerous awards for their work Irish Food from organisations such as Eurotoques, RAI, the Food Writers Guild, Food & Wine and McKenna Food Guides.
Tara Walker is the owner and chef tutor at East Coast Cookery School in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth and author of “Good Food No Stress” published by Mercier Press in March 2017. Tara grew up in a family of food businesses and honed her profession at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Her Cookery School now offers Zoom Cook-Along classes for teams working from home as well as families and individuals during Covid. Tara regularly givescookery demonstrations to large crowds at festivals such as Bloom, the Galway International Food Festival, The Irish Maritime Festival, Seafood Rocks and A Taste of Togher. She also facilitates tailored cookery demonstrations at schools,corporate offices and charities. Tara is much in demand by media and runs a monthly cookery slot on LMFM, appears regularly on Virgin Media One’s Ireland AM and has featured on RTÉ, The Nationwide Show, Newstalk FM. She regularly contributes to print publications including many national weekday and weekend publications and food Magazine
Bronagh Conlon is Founder and Managing Director of Listoke Distillery and Gin School in Co. Louth. A serial innovator, Bronagh developed her craft having first established the Real Irish Food company, producing a range of jams, sauces and Christmas fayre. Sold to the Jacobs Fruitfield Group, Bronagh continued to work at Jacobs where she specialised in new product development. After Jacobs Fruitfield Group, Bronagh developed Coomara Irish Spirits, followed by Rathmooney Distillery and Mad March Hare Poitín Limited before setting up Listoke Distillery and Gin School. During her career Bronagh has provided consultancy developing processes and products within thefood and drink industry and has mentored country wide on behalf of LEO. Bronagh is Chairperson of Discover Boyne Valley Flavours and a former Director of The Mill Drogheda’s Enterprise Hub in Drogheda.
Sally Anne is a co-founder of the award winning family owned Boann Distillery, based outside Drogheda in the heart of the Boyne Valley. She specialises in Marketing and PR for the distillery and its brands – The Whistler Irish Whiskey and most recently launching Silks Irish Gin. With over 20 years experience in the drinks industry Sally Anne’s passion for food and drink culture was nurtured in her previous role as General Manager of Gilbeys, Irelands largest wine company. This saw her represent many of the finest wine brands and travelling the world visiting the best producers and regions.
An eco-minded entrepreneur Carina established the 90 acre organic farm on the Slane Castle estate with her husband Alex Conyngham in 2011 and a thriving ecotourism business Rock Farm Slane in 2013. Carina sits on the boards of Boyne Valley Flavours and the Irish Adventure Tourism Association and now assists in the general management of Slane Castle as well as Rock Farm. Alex and Carina were awarded with the Movers and Shakers award by Georgina Campbell in 2021 for their work on a new food and beverage programme across the two sites, as well as the Irish Food Writers Guild Environmental Award for their work at Rock Farm in 2022
Ella Ryan is the Development Manager for The Centre of Food Culture, Boyne Valley. Ella works with the founding members of The Centre of Food Culture, Boyne Valley to realise the ambition of the organisation through the delivery of key events and projects. Ella’s previous experience includes working at FoodCloud, an Irish social enterprise working with the food industry that have surplus food and charities and community groups that need it. Her background also involves experience in the areas of e-commerce and business development.
Rebecca Meade is an experienced marketing and events professional with over 18 years of expertise in the industry. She has been an integral part of Boyne Valley Flavours for the past 8 years and has been involved with the Centre of Food Culture since its inception. Rebecca works on marketing and events for the Centre of Food Culture and coordinates the Samhain Festival of Food and Culture, bringing her extensive knowledge and passion for food and culture to every project