Head Chef
Sean McDonald

Achieved 2 Rosette Standard

Head Chef Sean McDonald has worked at Trim Castle Hotel as a creative leader since our doors opened in 2006. With a penchant for oriental flavours, Sean has developed our seasonal menus to offer our guests exceptionally good local Irish cuisine with a pan Asian twist.

Sean McDonald was raised in the foothills of the Sperrins in Co. Tyrone. Drawn to the mild Mediterranean climate, Sean moved to the Channel Islands as a young chef, keen to learn the secrets of speciality island dishes with a culinary mix of French and English cooking. In 2000, he joined the Forbes 5 star-rated hotel Crown Towers Melbourne. Working in The Conservatory, one of 25 luxury dining outlets in the hotel, Sean served an array of international cuisine including Japanese and regional Chinese. He returned to Dublin’s award-winning Osborne Restaurant at Portmarnock Hotel in 2002, under the guidance of AA Rosette-winning chef Eric Faussurier, before accepting the role of head chef at Trim Castle Hotel in 2006.

Sean is the driving force behind our ‘home grown’ love-of-food philosophy, taking time and effort to source quality, fresh ingredients from local Meath producers. Our field-to-fork ethos is reflected in our self-sufficient kitchen: everything we serve is handmade by our chefs: from artisanal bread, to jams - to a tower of fresh pavlovas and ice cream (we have 4 pastry chefs in-house!) - and even our (home) hay-smoked salmon.

Celebrate
in style with
a prosecco
afternoon tea
in The Bailey Bar

À la carte or all-day menus, both inspired by the flavours of Asia

We offer distinct dining experiences at Trim Castle Hotel for a wide variety of occasions: from casual meetings with friends, to a candlelit dinner, a formal business lunch or a spectacular wedding banquet. Using an array of local produce from Ireland’s newest culinary Boyne Valley region of Meath and Louth, our kitchen is Irish grown yet internationally flavoured - limited only by the season.

"I’m hugely proud of our self-sufficient kitchen, dedicated to home-made cooking. This extra touch offers a one-stop shop for all things artisan in Co. Meath - we are a hidden gem."

- Sean McDonald, Head Chef -

Barista Cafe has become the convivial sweet-tooth destination in Trim. Come by for home-cooked & heavenly cakes, scones and speciality coffee & teas. Now serving HOT BRUNCH & LUNCH!

With a brasserie feel-good atmosphere, The Bailey Bar has launched a new daily a la carte menu. Try our 3 course set menu for under €20. Our great little bar is also known to serve one of the best pints of Guinness in Ireland.

Jules Restuarant opens Friday to Sunday. Head Chef Sean McDonald celebrates Ireland’s great culinary heritage with his home-style cooking with an experimental twist.