Chef Aidan McGrath

About Aidan McGrath

A native of Mayo, Aidan is a graduate of Killybegs Hotel & Catering College in Co Donegal. He began his career in The Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge, London, and then held a number of senior chef positions in some of the leading hotels in the UK, The Dorchester, The Four Seasons, to name but two, and also in France and Switzerland. Before returning to Ireland he was Head Chef at l’Escargot a Marco Pierre White restaurant and a London landmark in food.

Aidan returned to Ireland in 1992 as Head Chef of The Limerick Inn Hotel and worked in several Head Chef positions in major hotels including Adare Manor before opening his own restaurant, Muses, in Bunratty, Co Clare, in 1999. He ran the restaurant for five years and during that time it was recommended in the prestigious Georgina Campbell, Bridgestone and Michelin food guides.

Aidan then moved to Co Kerry as Executive Head Chef at the five-star Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare, a Relais & Chateaux property, where he won three AA rosettes for food just one year after taking the position. But Co. Clare beckoned once again and he was offered the Position of Executive Chef of the Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club where he was responsible for the total dining experience.

aidan mcgrath

Now Aidan owns and runs a boutique hotel with his family in Lisdoonvarna, which they spent five months renovating, called Wild Honey Inn. Wild Honey Inn is open seven days Lunch and Dinner where you will find Aidan and his team cooking creative pub food with a twist using seasonal local produce. Aidan has also featured on a number of cookery programmes such as the BBC’s Gourmet Ireland with Paul Rankin. Samantha Browns holiday programme on Discovery Channel and a number of RTE cookery programmes, Afternoon Show, Open House, Pot Luck and on TG4 with Eamon O’Catháin. Aidan has also worked with a number of celebrity chefs throughout his career including Anton Mossiman, Wolfgang Puch, & Tom Coliccchio the James Beard Award-winning New York chef and owner of two New York premier restaurants, Gramercy Tavern and Craft. Most of you will recognise Tom Colicchio as the host on the Top Chef TV series in the USA.

Aidan is now doing what he has always wanted to do and describes his cooking today as “modern bistro cooking” The Wild Honey Inn has already been accepted in the Michelin Guide 2009 and also the Georgina Campbell Ireland Guide 2009.