Ireland’s first ‘celebrity chef’ and leading restaurateur dies aged 81

Restaurateur Sean Kinsella, best known as proprietor of Mirabeau, has died aged 81.

Originally from Cooraclare, Co Clare, Kinsella moved to Dublin when an infant and grew up on the northside on Clonliffe Road near Croke Park.

His career took him to some of Dublin's most famous kitchens and around the world as executive chef on cruise liners. His reputation extended to the US and he was well-known in New York and received an honorary doctorate from Boston University.

But he is best known for the Mirabeau, which he opened in Sandycove in 1974 and ran with his wife Audrey.

It was known for its outstanding culinary reputation and as the eatery of choice for international stars including Peter Ustinov, Michael Caine, Fred Astaire and Richard Burton. He also cooked for high-ranking politicians. Charles Haughey was a friend and he often complained that journalists persisted in asking for stories about the former taoiseach.

His funeral Mass is tomorrow at St Anne's Church, Shankill, with burial afterwards in St Fintan's Cemetery, Sutton, Co Dublin.