On setting up her cookery school at Shanagarry, Co Cork:

When we started the school I really didn't know if it would work. But farming was extremely difficult and we knew we had to do something to keep a roof over our heads.

On reportedly being a millionaire:

I can absolutely tell you that is not true. Nor do I want to be. I don't have a huge income or vast amounts of money. We've borrowed from the bank, worked like hell, paid it back, borrowed some more and on and on it goes.

On becoming more commercially minded:

I suppose I do need to become more that way. We haven't had any five-year plans or anything like that. Things have just sort of evolved here. One thing happens and then the next just become obvious.

Her opposition to genetically modified foods:

Genetically modifying our food ingredients is the biggest single experiment on human kind that has ever happened and I think it's completely outrageous that these companies can do it. I figure this will be the single most important stand I ever take.