Originally opened as the College of Catering in 1941, The Faculty of Tourism and Food was founded in 1977, and the Head of Faculty was Michael Mulvey, PhD. In a restructuring of The Faculty in 2019, the School of Hospitality Management and Tourism AND the School of Culinary Arts were merged with the former Faculty of Applied Arts into the new College of Arts and Tourism. The School of Food Science and Environmental Health was transferred to the new College of Science. The Faculty specialises in training professional chefs, hospitality managers, and other professionals in the food and tourism industry, providing undergraduate degrees as well as masters degrees and doctorates. It is considered the best college for food and tourism degrees in Ireland. Its graduates include Darina Allen, TV chef, food writer, and founder of the Michelin starred Ballymaloe House and Cookery School and food company, along with several other noted Irish chefs and hoteliers.