The Skipper sets sail

VENTRY lost a favourite eating place at the weekend with the much-lamented closure of The Skipper restaurant, which has fed locals and visitors with the best of food for the past 20 years.

As a farewell gift to his regular customers, Paddy Chauvet offered free meals on Friday and Saturday night and the house was full on both nights with people who wanted to say farewell and to wish him good fortune in his new venture at the Dingle Peninsula Hotel near Riasc where he is taking over the restaurant.

The Skipper was opened some 20 years ago by Paddy’s mother, Cathy, and she was joined a year later in the business by his father, Michel. This meant that Paddy grew up between La Rochelle and Ventry where he went to school for a time and came to be known as ‘Paddy the Frenchman’.

In 2010 Paddy took over The Skipper following his mother’s death and since then his particular French / Irish mix, good food and good prices has seen the restaurant become a greatly appreciated landmark in Ventry.

Last year, the rented premises in which The Skipper was located was put up for sale and, having pondered his options, Paddy decided to close the restaurant, to the dismay of the local population.

To show his appreciation to his many loyal customers he fed them with free paella, topped up their glasses and left behind the invitation to cross Mám na Gaoithe to enjoy his cooking in the Dingle Peninsula Hotel, where we wish him the best of good luck.

Paddy Chauvet (seated centre) with two of his long-serving staff, Liz Greenan and Brian Ruddy, along with some of his regular customers at the closing night in the Skipper Restaurant on Saturday.

Michel Chauvet - the original Skipper.