A new wave of Irish hospitality is making its way across Chicago’s Northwest Side as Ma Goes Rogue Catering launches—an exciting collaboration between Donal Donoghue, owner of The Mystic Rogue, and Aine O’Brien, owner of Ma O’ Brien’s.
For Aine O’Brien, the venture is both a homecoming and a natural next chapter. With more than 20 years of experience at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, she built her career across both operations and sales, eventually helping to develop the catering division of LYFE Kitchen, the healthy-food concept created by Chef Art Smith. Her work later took her to Google, where she served as the Global Catering Program Manager—designing hospitality programs on a worldwide stage.
But in 2023, Aine brought her deep experience back to where her heart has always been: Chicago’s Northwest Side. Opening Ma O’ Brien’s, she set out to create a warm, Irish-inspired community pub where neighbors—young and old—could relax, gather, and feel at home. The cozy space quickly established itself as a local favorite, known for its welcoming atmosphere and the sense of connection it fosters.
“Running my own business has brought me so much joy,” Aine says. “The coming together of people and the connections made have made Ma O’Brien’s a very special place.”
Yet after a full year at the helm, one thing tugged at her—a longing for the creative excitement that comes with planning and executing events. As fate would have it, she wasn’t the only one thinking along those lines.
For months, she and Donal Donoghue had been tossing around the idea of joining forces, blending their shared love of Irish hospitality with their complementary strengths in food, service, and community engagement.
That spark has now become Ma Goes Rogue Catering, a catering collaboration built on passion, experience, and the belief that hospitality should feel personal. Together, Donal and Aine aim to bring elevated food, thoughtful service, and a warm Irish welcome to events across the city—whether intimate gatherings, corporate functions, celebrations, or community occasions.
Rooted in Aine’s extensive background and Donal’s culinary vision, Ma Goes Rogue Catering promises something unique: high-quality, approachable food delivered with the kind of genuine charm that feels like home.
With Ma O’ Brien’s thriving, The Mystic Rogue continuing to serve as a neighborhood staple, and now Ma Goes Rogue Catering emerging as their combined creative outlet, the Northwest Side is set to experience a new level of Irish-inspired hospitality—one event at a time.
Contact Aine @773-490-5086
Ma Goes Rogue Catering: A Fresh Collaboration on Chicago’s Northwest Side
