Meet The Chefs: Donegal Town's Quay West welcomes locals and tourists alike

Overlooking Donegal Bay, a small walk from Donegal Town’s Diamond, is Quay West, acclaimed as one of Ireland’s best seafood restaurants. 

Jo Daly and Debbie O’Reilly have spent the last nine years welcoming locals and tourists alike, recognising their importance in making diners remember Donegal Town positively, whether that be advising tourists or building a sense of community among locals.

The culinary pair met at catering college in Killybegs as teenagers and have been best friends ever since, running another restaurant in Donegal for 15 years before purchasing their premises, launching Quay West in 2016. 

“We were leasing that restaurant,” says Jo, “so for ten years, we were looking for another opportunity. Debbie found this place. It didn’t warm my heart thinking about it, but from the moment we came in, we knew this was the place for us.”

“It was a family home,” adds Debbie. “Six months of construction. We extended outside and up. It was hectic because we were running the other place at the same time.” 

Recognising Donegal’s tourism importance is a major factor in Jo and Debbie’s success. 

“We are ambassadors for Donegal Town,” says Jo. “You want people leaving the town with a positive experience. This week, we had two people return from Arizona who were here six years ago. They’re back because of the experiences they had in Donegal. 

“People would say that coming to Donegal is like getting a hug, which is lovely to hear because that means that everybody is doing their jobs right.” 

Supporting local produce is a key mantra for Jo and Debbie. Quay West is involved with Food Coast Donegal, an initiative supporting, celebrating, and growing the Donegal food sector.

“You would support the small organic farmer,” says Jo. “Someone would harvest their salad in the morning, and we would have it here by lunchtime. It is very important to both of us that we support local suppliers because it’s produced with love. 

“We cook with the heart, so when people eat it, they think it is delicious. It’s as natural as it can be, and we try to enhance it.”

Debbie agrees, saying: “Our fish is local and fresh. You don’t have to do anything with it but look after it. 

“The love of cooking comes with maturity, going on holidays, and experiencing the food and markets. I love all that, and you bring it home with you.” 

Their exceptional offerings helped win the pair plenty of award recognition, from Ulster’s Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year in 2018, to winning the 2023 National Seafood Restaurant of the Year, but it is their community impact of which they are particularly proud.

That pride comes from their customer loyalty and community scheme participation during Covid-19, and assisting female Donegal entrepreneurs.

And Debbie maintains that Quay West would be nothing without their wonderful staff, many of whom had worked in the pair’s previous restaurant.  

Jo says she is proud of Chef Aid, a scheme she helped initiate during Covid-19, with eight kitchens delivering over 80,000 cooked meals to homes. 

“Chef Aid gave a lot of comfort to people who had nobody,” recalls Jo. “It wasn’t so much about the food, but that somebody was checking in on people, and it was known faces.”

Since joining Donegal Women in Business Network, the group has more than doubled in size to 300 members during the time Jo has been involved.

“Donegal is far down the line with female entrepreneurship,” says Jo. “Donegal County Council sees the value of what we do because we try to help more women get into business, and support them along the way.”

Ultimately, Jo and Debbie feel blessed with their lives in Donegal Town. 

“We’re so fortunate in Donegal that we have all these natural resources,” Jo reflects. “Donegal Town has a great heart.”