Colin O'Daly

Who is Colin O'Daly?

Colin O'Daly is a Michelin star winning head chef of the restaurant Park.

O'Daly started his career in the catering industry as a 16-year-old commis chef in the terminal kitchen of Dublin Airport under the leadership of Jimmy Doyle. After finishing his training he went on to Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo. Due to bad health Colin O'Daly left Cong and went back to Dublin. He did several short stints including a year at UCD, where he met his wife. His first job as head chef was in the Renvyle House Hotel in the Connemara, County Galway. O'Daly left there because of health problems from his children and went back to Dublin. He later went back to county Mayo to work in Newport House, then carrying an Egon Ronay Guide star.

Looking for some stability for his family, he accepted the job offer from the Park Hotel Kenmare to become head chef of Park. Here, O'Daly earned his first Michelin star in 1983.

Forced by the ill health of his children he moved back to be closer to hospitals. Instead of a house he bought a rundown restaurant in Blackrock. Within a short time and with help from friends he turned The Park into a thriving place. The economic crisis in the late 1980s was too much and the restaurant closed down.