I’ve been very fortunate to work with some great people ver the years, and its so nice to get feedback from them. Here are just some of their kind words: Youtube

We’ve known Oonagh since she first mentored us in 2012 when Mescan Brewery was still just an idea. She has a tremendous knowledge of, and passion for, all things food. – Cillian ÓMóráin, Mescan Brewery

Starting a business can be difficult and when it is a food business it is even more challenging.  Oonagh has helped hundreds of businesses, including my own, to get started, giving sound advice without making the process too overwhelming – Brid Torrades, Osta Cafe & Wine Bar

Working alongside Oonagh gave me a lot of confidence in myself and my capabilities to start and then expand my own business. I always found Oonagh at the end of the phone if I needed advise and to me that was invaluable – AnneMarie Hanley, Hanley Catering

“Being mentored by Oonagh Monahan has been a game-changer for us in the Irish food industry. Her extensive experience and deep knowledge have equipped us with insights into every aspect of the business, from market research to distribution and finance. Oonagh’s structured approach, coupled with her clear summaries and actionable plans after each session, have been invaluable in guiding our next steps. Her passion for the industry is infectious, and we feel incredibly lucky to have her as our mentor. With Oonagh’s guidance, we’re inspired and ready to take on whatever challenges come our way. Sunkyung (Sun) Choi & Patrick Nagle at Well Spent Grain – Born Again Bites”

“Anytime I met Oonagh I learnt something new and beneficial. Her knowledge and passion about start-up food businesses was pivotal to our success. She illuminated pathways clearly and simply that helped our business grow.” – Redmond Cabot, Cabot’s of Westport

For me, Oonagh was a great resource and mentor right through the journey of planning and running my cookery school. She is so knowledgeable about the food business and has connections in every sector of the industry, thereby allowing you to network with the relevant people that can help. Oonagh has a great communication style and continues to support and encourage me.  A great asset to have in your corner! – Margaret Sexton, Margaret’s Kitchen & Aldi National Brown Bread Competition Winner

Oonagh has acted as a consultant to the Irish Bread Bakers association over the past five years, and through her extensive knowledge of the facts and science around nutrition, has been of invaluable assistance in dispelling some of the negative myths around bread as a food source – Pat Fox, Johnston Mooney & O’Brien / / Irish Bread Bakers Association

Oonagh is highly regarded as the go to professional for advice on turning bright food ideas into a viable business. Her help in bringing structure to our Research & Development has been invaluable – after all even the wildest ideas can benefit from a bit of taming and organisation – Michael Liddle – Operations Director ( New Projects) , McCaughey Foods

Oonagh is a recognised authority on starting a small food business. She is a highly experienced consultant and mentor, offering practical advice that draws on an experience base from working with hundreds of food businesses over many years. She has literally written the book and is highly knowledgeable on areas as diverse as food hygiene, product development, routes to market and on the many sources of help to someone starting out – John Magee, Head of Enterprise, LEO Mayo

Oonagh’s expertise and knowledge is key to her role as a panel chair for judging at the World Steak Challenge. Her discerning palate and dedication to excellence greatly enhance the integrity and fairness of the judging process. It’s a privilege to have Oonagh as part of the judging panel for the World Steak Challenge – Portia Dowd, World Steak Challenge.

“Oonagh was engaged to develop and complete a Food & Drink Strategy for Co. Roscommon.  This was no easy task as many food and drink producers are hidden gems and too often like to remain this way.  Oonagh’s dedication and commitment to discover as many hidden gems to engage with her to highlight challenges facing Roscommon Food & Drinks producers  was impeccable.  As a result of her hard work and shear dedication Roscommon as a county now has a Food & Drink Strategy that will act as a guide and roadmap for this particular niche market. This strategy is available on line and is well worth a read to really appreciate Oonagh’s capabilities, dedication and passion for our foodies” – Amanda Mee, Roscommon Leader Partnership

It was a pleasure to work alongside Oonagh Monahan on the Mayo Food & Drink Training & Networking programme. Oonagh has a deep understanding of the needs and challenges that food producers face. She used this knowledge to create a programme that met their specific needs, supporting them in preparing their products for the market. Oonagh also leveraged her network to bring in experts, including myself, to provide essential guidance on social media marketing, among other areas, which contributed to the success of the programme. Oonagh is a pleasure to work with and an asset to every team – Louise McDonnell, Sell On Social

I’ve worked with Oonagh for nearly 10 years as part of the Irish Bread Bakers’ Association. She has a real love of all things food while being able to overlap the commercial requirements for a food business to survive and grow. A straight talker. – Derek Beatty, ex-Commercial Director, Brennan’s Bakeries / Irish Bread Bakers Association

Oonagh Monahan is a font of knowledge, sound knowledge. There is something in this publication for everyone. For sure! – Shane Smith, YesChef Ireland “the magazine for lovers of good food”

“Oonagh’s depth of knowledge regarding the food industry made her mentoring and training totally relevant to Kelly’s Butchers and our position within the market. This made a huge difference to the effect it had.”- Sean Kelly, Kelly’s of Newport

Oonagh’s ability to simplify complex processes helped me to save time, money and importantly stress while trying to launch a start up business. Her experience in the industry helped me to not only implement the correct procedures but also to feel confident in my ability to do so. – James Byrne, Grab & Grow

‘Oonagh is a powerhouse of information and expertise in business development and networking. Her knowledge of brand development was pivotal to the launch of Mariko’. – Christine McAndrew, Mariko Green Tea

“Working with Oonagh through Blas na hEireann mentoring sessions and later encountering her as a panelist during our New Frontiers training by Enterprise Ireland was an absolute privilege. Oonagh’s depth of knowledge in setting up and running a food business in Ireland is remarkable. Her guidance is not only insightful but also delivered with clarity and precision, making it invaluable for anyone venturing into the realm of food entrepreneurship. We are immensely grateful for Oonagh’s guidance and we wholeheartedly recommend her book to anyone navigating this dynamic industry; we are confident it will shape your journey towards success.” Pamela & Facundo, Tango Street Food

 “Wildwood Balsamics have benefited enormously from the informative and always focused training courses with well-matched mentoring directed by Oonagh as part of the innovative development of artisan food production in Co Mayo.” – Fionntan Gogarty, Wildwood Balsamics

“It is with great pleasure that I share my experience of being mentored by Oonagh Monahan through the Blas na hEireann Food Awards. Oonagh’s guidance was instrumental in enhancing the technical aspects of my business, particularly in leveraging scientific research to bolster the credibility of BKultured. One of the most valuable aspects of Oonagh’s mentorship was her provision of a comprehensive toolbox comprising reporting and analysis documents. These resources proved invaluable in refining the internal operations of my business, allowing for greater efficiency and effectiveness in our endeavours. In a small business where time is a precious commodity and multitasking is the norm, Oonagh’s ability to deliver clear and relevant insights was truly brilliant. Her tailored guidance enabled me to focus on key areas of improvement and implement strategic changes with confidence. I wholeheartedly recommend Oonagh Monahan to any food or beverage business seeking mentorship. Her expertise, dedication, and practical approach make her an invaluable asset to any entrepreneur looking to elevate their business to new heights.”  – Niamh Hegarty, BKultured

I worked closed with Oonagh on a marketing project.  Oonagh possesses a great deal of expertise in many areas of food business development. I would highly recommend Oonagh’s book if you are thinking about starting a food business or if you need a mentor or consultant for your business. – Amy Curley, Waldron Family meats 

Oonagh has assisted Linwoods’ for over 8 years in the area of R&D reporting and we have found her to be knowledgeable, insightful, proactive and very helpful in helping us make successful applications. – Paddy Lappin, Linwoods Health Foods

I had the privilege of being mentored by Oonagh through the Blas Backyard Series. Oonagh’s guidance and support, along with her passion for the Irish food industry has enabled me to gain new insights and understanding which has advanced my business development skills. I highly recommend Oonagh for anyone wanting to elevate their business – Gillian Morgan, Morgans Fine Fish 

In 2022 Blas na hÉireann asked producers to nominate people who they felt were doing their utmost to support and promote Irish food. Oonagh Monahan was named as part of a dream team of champions, including chefs, independent retailers, networks and industry, whose local support was invaluable to producers and this was evident in the suggestions that came back from producers. Here’s what some of the producers had to say… – Fallon Moore, Blas na hEireann

• An absolute rock of supporting & promoting the amazing food producers in our locality
• Oonagh Monahan is an articulate herald and advocate for small food producers across Ireland particularly during the pandemic. An inspiration.
• Oonagh provided outstanding mentor support to us. Oonagh’s professional approach, food industry knowledge & scientific approach to food are second to none which helped us immensely. Oonagh is our food champion.
• Oonagh Monahan – a champion of small food businesses.