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 A country farm house built in 1845, Ryeland House Cookery School is run by well known local chef, Ann Neary. The school opened in 1991 and many of the first students through its doors were friends supporting Anne in her new endeavour. Since then, all ages and abilities have been through the school from transition year students and housewives to career women who want to entertain at home. “There is no entry level for the cookery courses I run, in fact some of my students have never even turned on a cooker before – I think that’s why they love the homely and relaxed atmosphere of Ryeland House” Anne explains.
Anne is also involved in a weekly cookery slot on KCLR 96FM where she answers questions and offers valuable tips to listeners. “Little tips are so important in cooking” she stresses “like how you can substitute herbs you forgot to pick up in your weekly shopping or how to convert imperial measurements to metric”. Anne is also very supportive of locally produced food products and recently appeared on TV3 to promote our very own Savour Kilkenny Food Festival.
Amid a busy schedule of teaching students, young and old, doing her radio slot and managing the family home, one would wonder where Anne gets time for anything else. Not to mention fully co-ordinating the production of her new book!
 For years people were asking Anne to write a book and finally she gave in. “A Country Kitchen” is the culmination of twenty years of cooking and teaching. The result is a colourful book with vibrant photography, serving up 85 delectable and easy to follow recipes for families meals, dinner parties, barbeques, picnics, alfresco and Christmas dining. Anne also provides a special section of recipes for fish, summer salads and simple dishes she teaches her younger students.
Anne always had a love of food and cooking. As the oldest of six children growing up by the sea in Arthurstown, Wexford, she would go down to the harbour and collect fish from the fishermen each day and enjoy every last morsel that same evening. As she grew up, she was surrounded with fresh food and good cooks and so you could say that the makings were all there for a budding chef to emerge from the family.
Anne initially trained in Hotel Management with CERT. She later trained as a chef at Leith Cookery School in London followed by Murray Cookery School in Surrey. In between she worked as a beautician but her love of painting faces was far outweighed by her love of cooking and so she decided to follow her dream.
"There is no right or wrong way to cook. In fact the more fun you have cooking, the better it tastes." Experience the thrills and spills of experimenting with and enjoying creating meals from “A Country Kitchen”. Whether it’s a simple brunch, supper for two or you are throwing a dinner party to impress, this is a cookery book which will deliver favour and flair for the dedicated cook yet is simple enough for the kitchen novice.
“A Country Kitchen” is available to buy online on www.ryelandhousecookery.com and can also be purchased in Kilkenny at:
- Kilkenny Design Centre, Castle Yard
- The Book Centre, 10 High St
- Stonehouse Books, MacDonagh Junction
- Cooks Haven, Kieran St
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