Celebrity chef Neven Maguire to cook up a storm for Rose Festival

The appearance of the in-demand Irish celebrity chef Neven Maguire at the Castlerea Rose Festival this week has been described as a major coup.

Enterprise Castlerea Ltd. has confirmed that the TV personality will be giving a cookery demonstration in The Hub, as part of this year’s Castlerea Rose Festival.

Neven is renowned as a champion of Irish food and will be entertaining the crowds at on Wednesday, July 31st at 8 p.m. The event will also coincide with an open evening for people to visit the new food hub.

Chairperson of Enterprise Castlerea Ltd, Benny O’Connell said everyone was looking to the Neven Maguire cookery demonstration on an evening where members of the public and potential startups could also view the units at the Castlerea Food Hub. The hub was officially opened by Minister Heather Humphreys in May.

Mr O’Connell said a great night was anticipated where a large crowd, including those who come home for the festival, could enjoy Neven Maguire's cookery skills and the new facility.

There are seven units at the An Chistin Food Hub - five 1,000 square foot units and two 2,000 square foot units. They have been developed in the hope of bringing more employment to the area, expanding on food tourism while also offering business opportunities to those in the food industry.

Funding for the project was secured from the Department of Rural and Community Development, Roscommon County Council and Enterprise Castlerea.

One company has already secured two of the units, Solas Desserts, which supplies quality desserts to the Irish hospitality and retail sector. The idea was inspired by Elena Martinez Otero who has an extensive background in culinary arts. Her husband, Warren McElhone from Castlerea, who is also involved in the company and has substantial experience in the hospitality sector, outlined to the Herald that they were renting two units at the hub.

Warren explained that Solas Desserts would be launching its offerings very shortly, comprising five products for the hospitality sector and a separate range for the retail sector.

He paid tribute to Benny O'Connell and Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice for their assistance in developing their business at the hub.