Corrigan to open first Irish eaterie

By Angela Frewin

Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan is to open his first restaurant in his native Ireland in conjunction with Ryanair founder and billionaire Tony Ryan.

The 70-seat restaurant, the Mill at Lyons, will open in September as part of a €50m (£34m) food village in the Lyons Estate near Celbridge in Co Kildare, which Ryan acquired in the mid-1990s.

Corrigan, whose current ventures include the Michelin-starred Lindsay House restaurant and the Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill in London, said Ryan had approached him to help out with the restaurant.

"I don't normally do things outside my own company," said Corrigan.

However, he added that he couldn't resist the opportunity to get involved with the project. "It's a beautiful food village with a smokery and a bakery that's bringing great food to the people," he said.

Corrigan has hand-picked the restaurant's chefs, and sees his role as similar to that of a conductor. Heading up the kitchen will be Dublin-born Liam Tomlin, who made his name in Sydney at Restaurant 41, Banc, and GPO, a food and restaurant complex on the site of the city's first general post office.

The Lyons Estate also has planning permission for 45 holiday homes.