Top Honour For The ‘Masterchef’ At Darcy’s

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Noel Keane (left) who has been made a ‘Masterchef’, an elite group of chefs of which there are only 61 word wide. Also included is Gary Foley, who is learning from Noel. Photo by Dermot Crean

A TRALEE man, who has been a head chef in restaurants all over the world, has been awarded the top honour of ‘Masterchef’.

Ballinorig native, Noel Keane, is head chef in Darcy’s Restaurant in Barrack Lane, Tralee, which has been nominated for numerous awards over the last year.

Now Noel, a member of the Panel of Chefs of Ireland, has been inducted into the Masterchefs, an organisation of elite chefs. Noel is just its 61st member worldwide and the only Irishman as far as he is aware.

It follows on from Noel being awarded the title of ‘Master Craftsman’ by the Craft Guild of Chefs, which is the highest award they can give to someone who hasn’t previously been a Masterchef.

“I’m very happy with the honour,” said Noel. “I suppose they don’t just hand the Masterchef title out for the fun of it. The award is based on working at a consistently high level over many years. It’s based on your entire career and the awards you’ve attained and the high standards in the places you’ve worked,” said Noel, son of Tom and Esther Keane from Ballinorig.

“A big thing with Masterchefs is that you pass on your knowledge to new chefs and teach them to achieve high standards,” said Noel, who has been a head chef for 18 years, since he was 22.

It’s something Noel is practising at Darcy’s as he is mentoring a young O’Rahilly’s Villas man, Gary Foley a student at IT Tralee, who has also been inducted into the Craft Guild Of Chefs, but at ‘Student’ level.

Darcy’s Restaurant was a finalist in the Food Oscars Restaurant, Chef and Front of House Of The Year categories earlier this year. They are also a finalist in ‘Yes Chef’ magazines Restaurant and Chef of the Year categories which will be announced at the end of the month.

Good Food Ireland, the McKenna Guide and Les Routiers have all commended the restaurant this year.

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