Ireland is renowned for its high-quality food and exceptional service offering, which is an important part of the visitor experience and the Tourism and Hospitality industry. Providing tens of thousands of job opportunities and contributing billions to the Irish economy annually, a career in the food and drink sector offers excitement, a vibrant work environment, and lots of advancement opportunities.
This sector includes everything from food stalls and cafés to trendy pop-up restaurants and wine bars. The Traditional Irish Pub is ever popular in attracting visitors, while food connoisseurs will find an increasing number of top-class Michelin-starred and fine-dining restaurants to choose from.
However, this sector is not only about serving food and beverages, but also about the production of these quality products and experiences. Food tours, which take tourists along the journey from ‘farm to fork’, are now a thriving industry as are visitor attractions located in distilleries and breweries dotted around the country. In fact, the most visited tourist attraction annually in Ireland is the Guinness Storehouse which has welcomed over 20 million visitors over the past 20 years!
Is the Food and Beverage Sector for me?
If you have a passion for food or thrive on working with people, then this could be the sector for you.
People working in this sector can often be motivated by their passion for food and drink or by their love of meeting people and working in an environment filled with energy and life. Regardless of the role you have in a restaurant or a bar, the work is likely to require excellent social skills as you will be required to work closely with other members of staff and with the public. The industry often involves flexible hours, which might include evenings and weekends, making it ideal if balancing work with study or a demanding family life.
Work in restaurants and bars is typically fast paced and demanding. It provides the opportunity to work in a dynamic setting where you can rise to a challenge and develop invaluable skills such as problem solving and customer service.
What roles can I choose?
Creative roles are extensive in the food and drinks industry. Kitchens have a hierarchy of chef roles from entry level Kitchen Porters and Commis Chefs, through to Chef de Partie, Sous Chef, and Executive or Head Chefs.
You will also find roles where you can innovate and create in the drinks industry such as mixologists and brewers.
Behind the scenes roles include those in production, as well as marketing jobs throughout the drinks industry in brand management and events promotion.
Other roles manage and deliver the customer experience and are often referred to as front of house roles. Bar staff can find work serving drinks in a wide variety of places including bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, leisure complexes, and theatres. Some fine dining restaurants may employ a sommelier; a wine expert who works with the chefs in the kitchen to develop wine lists to perfectly suit the menu, as well as on the floor of the restaurant to make recommendations and provide information to customers.
Restaurants and bars also require waiting staff, such as a Head Waiter, sometimes called Maître D, and other waiters.
'Barista'is the Italian term given to a professional coffee-maker who operates the machines and produces the perfect cup of coffee.
Read about a day in the life of a Chef de Partie and Mark Moriatry’s highly successful career since being crowned Best Young Chef in the World. Check out Jack’s career as a Bartender in a famous hotel. Whatever your interest the sector offers unrivalled opportunities to build your career from the ground up, retrain or upskill.
Begin your career journey today
There are multiple ways to join the vibrant, fast paced food and drink sector where no two days are the same. The skills you will develop will open up endless possibilities for travel and career progression. As a TY or FET student work experience offers you an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the sector. If you are keen to get started explore our live jobs, where experience isn’t always necessary. You may prefer to go to college where there are a wide range of courses at different levels. Apprenticeships offer you the opportunity to earn and learn whilst gaining valuable work experience. If your passion is food you could start on a one year Culinary Arts course progressing to Professional Cookery Advanced which leads to advanced entry to a BSc in Culinary Arts and your route to a career as a professional chef. Whatever your interest the sector offers unrivalled opportunities to build your career from the ground up, retrain or upskill.