My Home: Co. Wicklow

Chef Catherine Fulvio shares all the places she loves in the beautiful part of Ireland she calls home.

- Catherine Fulvio

CATHERINE, TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I am third generation here at Ballyknocken House, Farm and Cookery School in Co. Wicklow. My mother opened the house as one of Ireland's first farmhouse experiences and the same hospitality is still offered here today. I converted the old milking parlour of the farm to a cookery school and I absolutely adore sharing my passion for food and showing our guests what we grow in our herb, fruit and vegetable gardens. We host a broad range of cookery classes which are open to the general public and more recently we welcome a lot of private groups and parties who get to enjoy the ambience of a charming country house.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CO. WICKLOW?

Forever! I am Wicklow born and bred. I did live in Dublin for a number of years after college and also in Germany for a year, but there was always the draw to come back to the family home and beautiful Co. Wicklow and the local community here in Glenealy.

HOW DOES CO. WICKLOW COMPARE TO OTHER PLACES YOU HAVE TRAVELLED TO?

I have been so fortunate to travel all over the world with my RTE TV series 'Taste of Home' but there is, as they say, nowhere like home! We are really lucky here, located in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains and in view of the Irish Sea. It's simply paradise to me. What more could I ask for!

HOW HAS WICKLOW CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

Wicklow is really developing on the food front and now with the food collective, Wicklow Naturally, it is a rising ship that I am delighted to be part of. We have everything from wine makers (Wicklow Way Wines) to distilleries (Glendalough and Powerscourt), farm artisanal bakers (Sugarloaf Bakes) to bar to bean chocolate (Nibbed Cocao) and so much more. It's a haven for food and drink lovers these days.

ARE THERE ANY BOUTIQUES YOU LIKE TO SHOP IN?