Danni Barry

Danni Barry
Occupation	Chef
Years active	2003–present
Known for	Second woman from Ireland awarded a Michelin star; Irish Chef of the Year 2016

Danni Barry is a chef from Ireland who previously held the position of head chef at Northern Ireland's Eipic and served as executive chef at Balloo House. She is currently the executive chef at Ballynahinch Castle located in Connemara, Galway. Barry was the second woman from Ireland to be awarded a Michelin star and received the title of Irish Chef of the Year in 2016.

Career

Barry's culinary journey started at the age of 14 when she worked as a kitchen porter and pursued formal training at a catering college in Newry, Northern Ireland. Under the guidance of chef Michael Deane, she joined his establishment Deanes in 2003. Her career includes international exposure, such as working at Simon Rogan's L'Enclume, followed by a role as sous chef with Raymond McCardle at Restaurant 23. In 2012, she advanced to head chef at Rogan’s Cartmel & Co.

In 2014, Barry made her way back to Northern Ireland to lead Eipic as head chef, with Deane as owner. Within a year and a half, she secured a Michelin star, distinguishing herself as Ireland’s only female Michelin-starred chef at that time and the second overall. Her culinary style is noted for featuring foraged ingredients like wild garlic and herbs.

In 2015, Barry represented Northern Ireland on BBC Two’s cooking contest Great British Menu. The following year, she was honored as Irish Chef of the Year at the Irish Restaurant Awards; concurrently, Eipic was recognized as Ulster Restaurant of the Year, and Deane earned Entrepreneur of the Year. Additionally, Olive magazine included her among 17 notable chefs to watch in 2016.