Cooking up a storm: Alex Dunne on his hometown

Alex Dunne completed his rookie Formula 3 campaign in 2024 as the only Irish driver on the grid. We asked him about growing up in his hometown, what there is to do around there and what he might cook up in the kitchen back home.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

“I grew up in a place called Offaly. It’s in a county pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It’s quite a big sporting county so there’s a lot of support from there. I’ve grown up there since I was born. Rugby, Gaelic Football, all kinds of sports happen there.”

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN THERE?

“I would assume Irish and Gaelic, but everyone speaks English.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT TO SOMEONE WHO’S NEVER BEEN?

“It’s in the middle of nowhere."

WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE?

“Terrible. Typical Irish weather. I’m used to it though.”

WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE SOMEONE VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME?

“There’s absolutely nothing to do where I live. If you want to drive a tractor on a farm, that’s about the best you’re going to get. No places to go shopping, no places to go out to eat.”

WHERE WOULD YOU GO TO EAT?

“My house. I’m not a bad cook so my house. What would I cook? I’m going to put myself on the spot and say it’ll be a five-star experience, two course meal.”

WHERE CAN WE GO FOR KARTING?

“Kart track called Athboy, which is a track about 30-40 minutes from where I live. It’s the first track I ever went to. It’s a small and tight circuit.”