“John Dwyer and I were introduced to IYF by one of the founders, Nessa O’Neill. It’s such a worthwhile cause, I’ve been supporting IYF ever since.”

Richard Corrigan has played a central role in the development of the IYF, joining the Board of Trustees in 2012. During this time Richard has raised over £500,000 for the IYF and the organisations it supports.

Richard is the most celebrated Irish chef in Britain, having opened numerous restaurants, gained Michelin stars, published two books, cooked for the Queen and Barack Obama, and regularly makes appearances on radio and television. He has won BBC2’s Great British Menu three times and is a regular judge on the popular BBC series. Richard owns and runs the Corrigan Collection Restaurants which includes: Daffodil Mulligan, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, Corrigan’s Mayfair, Dickies Bar, as well as Virginia Park Lodge in Co Cavan, Ireland.

A farmer’s son, Richard has cooked all his life and is a supporter of British and Irish produce and small independent suppliers. Richard is well known for his generous hospitality and celebrating seasonal events such as St Patrick’s Day, Game Season and The Return of the Native Oysters in September. Since Virginia Park Lodge’s acquisition in 2014, Richard has devoted much of his time to restoring the estate to its former glory, growing seasonal produce for his restaurants and making the 100-acre property as self-sufficient as possible.

“I’m delighted to be involved with the Irish Youth Foundation (UK) and I’m looking forward to supporting its great work with young disadvantaged Irish people in the UK.”

Dara’s Irish heritage and interest in the enrichment of education and the imaginations of children make a perfect match with the aims of the Irish Youth Foundation (UK).

Dara Ó Briain is one of the UK and Ireland’s favourite stand-up comedians and television presenters. He is best known for hosting Mock the Week, Robot Wars, Three Men in A Boat, Dara And Ed’s Big Adventure, Stargazing Live with Professor Brian Cox, Dara Ó Briain’s Science Club, and the documentary Dara Ó Briain Meets Sir Stephen Hawking, all on BBC. He also hosted Dara Ó Briain’s Go 8 Bit and School of Hard Sums on UKTV.

He started his career in television as a children’s presenter on RTÉ whilst performing his first stand-up gigs on the Irish comedy circuit. He is a graduate of University College Dublin, where he studied Mathematical Physics. Dara released the bestselling book, Tickling the English in 2009 and, more recently, his two children’s books about space: Secret Science: The Amazing World Beyond Your Eyes and Beyond the Sky: You and the Universe.