This week, Castle Leslie's award winning executive chef Noel McMeel puts student Stephen O'Connell to the test, handing him the role of head chef at Sir John Leslie's 90th birthday celebrations. Stephen is a sous chef in Cork city in his spare time, but he's certainly never had to pluck a pheasant or work on a fine dining menu before. Can he take on Noel's challenge and design a first class menu, take command of a crowded kitchen and present the meal to the lord of the manor with suitable aplomb?
This week we meet 20-year-old Aoife Cameron from Howth, who is trying to figure out what career path to pursue. She’s studying Culinary Arts and wants to work within that field, but has yet to find the ideal job. Enter wine expert Martina Delaney, sommelier at Derry Clarke’s celebrated restaurant, L’Ecrivain, in Dublin. Finglas-born Martina is determined to inspire her apprentice and pass on some of her own incredible enthusiasm for her work. Martina whisks Aoife away to the vineyards of Burgundy to immerse her in the world of wine. It’s not all tastings and beautiful scenery however. Martina puts Aoife’s newfound knowledge to the test, against a formidable panel of Ireland’s foremost sommelier talents.
This week the K Club’s high profile chief executive, Michael Davern takes on Christopher O’Sullivan, who has recently graduated from a course in hotel management. Michael asks Chris to host the visit of a group of VIP guests, and gives him the opportunity of working with the K Club’s expert team. Michael aims to mentor Chris and pass on some of the expertise which earned him top roles at international resorts such as Sandy Lane in Barbados, but is Chris open to learning?
This week, chef, restaurateur and hotelier Paul Flynn invites best friends Michelle McCarthy and Lorraine Cunningham to join him for a week at the Tannery Restaurant and Townhouse in Dungarvan. Michelle and Lorraine are straight out of college, and together they have taken on the management of Eldons hotel and restaurant in Roundstone. They work together, live together and finish each others’ sentences, but can the girls face Paul’s challenges, from selling their story on live radio to navigating a mountain through rain and mist?
This week, first cousins Liam LaHart and Oliver Hughes, who together own and run celebrity nightclub Lillies Bordello and the innovative Porterhouse chain of pubs, put their double act into action for 19-year-old Róisín O’Sullivan, who eventually wants to own her own bar. Cork-based Róisín hasn’t been to Dublin since she was 5, but once she has found her way to the Porterhouse she finds her feet and faces up to a series of challenges, from creating and promoting her own cocktail to giving a speech to a rowdy roomful of bearded stout fans.
This week, Patrick Delaney and Padraic Delaney, who run Dun Laoghaire-based events company Ovation, invite Kerry student Orla McAndrew to spend a week with them as they travel the country entertaining a group of VIP visitors. Can Orla adjust to this fast-paced world as she faces a series of challenges, including entertaining a party of over-excited 5-year-olds?
In the first programme Nicholas Mosse, one of Irelands most recognisable Master Potters is taking on an apprentice. Nicholas and his wife Susan started their business in the beautiful village of Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny in 1975. Together they have built an internationally recognised and hugely successful brand. Nicholas is passionate about creating beautiful pottery using Irish traditional methods. Each year their pottery attracts in the region of 150,000 thousand visitors. Nicholas and Susan will be passing to their apprentice the secrets of their success. This unique opportunity has fallen to Shona Flood. Originally from Dublin, at 33 Shona has tried her hand at several jobs from working as a marketing manager, to waitressing but she has now settled on making a career of her passion and becoming a potter. For the past few months she has been working in a small pottery in Galway. Over the course of her time at their pottery Nicholas and Susan will challenge Shona constantly to see if she has what it takes to make it in their line of business. Can Shona take on board their methods, learn how to market herself and her ideas, design and produce something from scratch and of high enough quality do her famous master proud? Along the way as well as learning from her Master and the staff at his pottery, the head of Kilkenny Design and one of Ireland's leading Fashion designers Ciarán Sweeney are drafted in by Nicholas to help his apprentice.
This week Joe O’Flynn Jnr. who runs Rathsallagh House and Golf Club in Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow is taking on an apprentice. Joe is a respected master of hospitality, with very high standards a keen eye for detail and customer care. He and his family have brought their business to multi award winning status and Rathsallagh is today regarded as one of the finest County House Hotels in Ireland. Joe’s Apprentice is 23 year-old Joanne Cronin from Killarney in County Kerry. Joanne has big ambitions to become the general manager of a hotel with a golf course. A fanatical and skilled golfer, who has represented Ireland and Munster underage, Joanne has been working as a hotel events co-ordinator but she is anxious to marry her passion for golf to her career in the hotel business. Running a business like Rathsallagh House and Golf Club is her dream job. During her time at Rathsallagh Joe and his staff constantly present Joanne with challenges to see if she has what it takes to handle the realities of her dream job. Can Joanne meet her masters standards and cater to the needs of a demanding group of special guests to the house, learn how to manage an extremely busy 18 hole championship golf course and organise, plan and run a day long golf outing for 150 guests?
This week Archaeologist Gerry McColskey who heads up Connemara Safariwalking and Island Hopping Tours is taking on an apprentice. From it’s base in Clifden, Connemara Safari has been taking visitors island hopping and walking the remote islands of Connemara and the west of Ireland for 15 years. The walks take in some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in the West and introduces visitors to the magic of Island life on Inish Bofin, Inish Turk and Clare Island. Through his knowledge of history, his relationship with the people of the Islands and his skill as an Archaeologist Gerry offers his visitors a unique experience. Gerry and his business partner hotelier Brian Hughes will be taking their apprentice on a five-day tour with a group of their customers and passing on the secrets of their success. Terry Lambert from Dublin is looking to change his life and turn his passion for walking into a new career; he is at the very early stages of establishing his own walking tours operation, HilltopTreks. While Terry feels he has the drive to pursue a walking tours business making the change from IT consultant to tour operator is a big leap. Over the course of his time with Connemara Safari Gerry and Brian will challenge him constantly to see if he has what it takes to make it in their line of business. He has much to learn from his Master to move beyond simply taking people for a walk to organising and running a walking holidays business. Can Terry cater to the needs of a group of their customers, get everyone moved from Island to Island, entertain the walkers and the locals on Inis Turk, and lead up the entire walking tour for a day on Clare Island taking on the role of Gerry and imparting to the walkers the history of the Island?
This week Donie O'Sullivan the owner of Killarney Riding Stables in Co. Kerry is taking on an apprentice. With just two horses, Donie O'Sullivan established Killarney Riding Stables, in Co Kerry in the 1960s. Today his stables are home to over 130 horses and his business caters to thousands of visitors from all over the world. Some come for a few hours to ride out in the stunning surrounds of the Killarney National Park and some come to spend up to seven days trail riding around Kerry. A master in equine tourism, Donie has agreed to take on an apprentice to work alongside him and his family. The O'Sullivans will be passing to their apprentice the secrets of their success. This unique opportunity has fallen to Emily Vial from Donegal. At just 21 she has spent most of her life working with horses, she has just completed a degree in Equine Science and is determined to realise her dream of building a successful business based on her passion. Over the course of her time at Killarney Riding Stables Donie and his family will challenge her constantly to see if she has what it takes to make it in their line of business. Can Emily look after such a large number of horses, deal with customers of all skill levels and nationalities, manage ride-outs through the national park and take command of a group on a trail ride around the ring of Kerry?
Karen Harris, together with her business partners Rupert Musgrave and Gavin Sweeney, owns and operates one of Ireland's most successful Adventure Centres in the pretty village of Dunmore East, Co Waterford. Karen and her partners started their business 15 years ago when they were in their early twenties and wanted to pursue their collective passion for water sports. Dunmore East Adventure Centre in Waterford has grown from strength to strength over the years putting through thousands of visitors each year from school tours, to advanced sailing students to day trippers, their expertise and the number of activities they have to offer is vast. For one week their apprentice will work alongside Karen and her partners, they will be putting him through his paces, helping him to understand the realities of running a business and passing to him the secrets of their success. This unique opportunity has been given to 23-year-old Dan Kealy. Dan has just completed an honours degree in Outdoor Education and Leisure. He is currently living in Achill, Co Mayo and working as a windsurfing instructor. Dan has big ideas about running his own adventure centre in the future which he thinks will allow him more opportunity to spend time out on the water. Over the course of his time at Dunmore East Adventure Centre Karen, Rupert and Gavin will constantly present Dan with challenges to see if he has what it takes to make it in their line of business. Can Dan manage to teach and entertain huge numbers of children, time table the activities for the entire centre, manage the instructors, take control, and devise and execute an entire day of activities successfully?
This week on The Master’s Apprentice Catherine Fulvio of Ballyknocken Cookery School is taking on an apprentice. Catherine runs her purpose built cookery school alongside her Victorian guesthouse in Ashford, Co. Wicklow. Having trained at Ballymaloe and the Alix Gardiner Schools of Cookery she established the school in 2004. Classes are offered in everything from baking to entertaining, from Mexican to Asian and from fish to modern Irish Cuisine. Catherine is extremely driven and passionate about her business and her drive to open the cookery school has also benefited her guesthouse greatly as many of her students also stay as guests in Ballyknocken House. Catherine has agreed to take on an apprentice to work alongside her. Catherine will be passing to her apprentice the secrets of her success. This opportunity has been given to Sian Breslin who currently runs Donegal Manor Guesthouse just outside Donegal town. Originally from Wales, Sian has been living and working in Donegal for 30 years. Having worked as a home economics teacher in the local school, Sian and her husband realised a dream when they built and opened their guesthouse in 2004. In a relatively short time their business has established itself and done very well winning them many awards. Sian has received planning permission to build a cookery school alongside her guesthouse and she is anxious to continue to grow her business in this direction. Despite her skill and experience as a home economics teacher Sian feels she lacks the skills, experience and confidence to prepare courses and cook food to the high standard that cookery school clients would demand. Spending time with someone as successful as Catherine Fluvio is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Sian. Over the course of her time at Ballyknocken House and Cookery School, Catherine will constantly present Sian with challenges to see if she has what it takes to make it. Can Sian devise her own menus and class plans, incorporate lo