MARGARET BROWNE:MARGARET BROWNE, who has died aged 55, was a former winner of Housewife of the Year award and the driving force behind a classic example of diversification on the family farm enterprise in East Cork.
In 1979, Browne , from Kanturk, married Killeagh dairy farmer Michael Browne of Ballymakeigh House. Acutely aware that Irish agriculture was going through a process of radical change, she believed that every farm should have two income streams - even a farm that milks 200 cows a day.
With that in mind, she quickly set out to harness the valuable resource that she knew the 18th century farm house could be for the Browne family. In her naturally stylish way, she transformed the old family home into one of the most successful farm guest houses in the country.
As a yardstick of what she achieved, in 2006 the guest house was the sole winner of the Good Hotel Award for Ireland. It was well deserved recognition for the warm hospitality, excellent food and local entertainment that two generations of the Browne family provide for guests from around the world.
Her sophisticated culinary skills came to national prominence in 1998 when she took part in a nationwide TV challenge on RTÉ 1 involving a number of Ireland's top chefs. In her time, she has won a string of other awards including Farm Guest House of the Year, Landlady of the Year, and an award for "Breaking the mould of Irish Baking".
Not a woman to mince her words, she has always been a passionate and consistent advocate of the need to enhance the status of women on the farm. Giving voice to the sentiments in the minds of thousands of farm-bound housewives up and down the country, she argued succinctly that "a woman must be paid as a staff member for the work she does. That way, women will have the recognition that they deserve."
Rather than merely convert a convenient farm shed into an outlet for those who wanted to buy farm produce, she invested in the Greenbarn Garden and Lifestyle Centre - an airy, high quality shopping venture and restaurant that open on to a well stocked garden centre. During her illness the restaurant had been leased but there are now plans to re-launch the complex under family ownership.
Along with the prize-winning guest house, it is at the heart of the thriving off-farm enterprise at Ballymakeigh. Attracting visitors by the score, the complex reflects the dynamic contribution she has made to the community around Killeagh.
In addition to her warm hospitality and fine cooking skills, Browne's formula for success was based on a homespun philosophy founded on the principle of making people feel special by minding them well and giving them quality service at all times.
Coupled with an ease for making visitors feel at home, she realised the quintessential importance of giving people a warm welcome. Unfortunately, that ready-made formula for success is all too often neglected in other sectors of the Irish tourism industry.
In keeping with her belief that customers will buy quality Irish goods if they can get them, the shop sells Irish kitchenware, pottery and paintings, as well as woollen and linen products made in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Her characteristic strength was seen in the way she dealt with cancer. This was particularly evident in her final contribution to the Mooney Show, a programme to which she had been a regular contributor about country life, cooking and everyday issues for several years.
Just a few days before she died, Browne spoke openly and movingly over the airwaves about her condition.
Despite the advanced nature of her illness at that stage, her warmth, sense of humour and strength of character, that had won so many friends down the years, shone through in every word.
She is survived by her husband Michael, daughters Kate and Theresa and son Michael.
Margaret Browne: born December 30th, 1954; died March 17th, 2010