A Lifelong Dream: The Cookery School Opens

Neven Maguire had always liked to share what he knew. In 2010 he spoke of plans to open a cookery school in Blacklion one day, alongside ten new bedrooms at MacNean House^[3]. Many people make plans like that. Fewer follow through.

In 2014 the day came. The Neven Maguire Cookery School opened right beside MacNean House & Restaurant^[1]. He called it a lifelong ambition^[1].

Small Classes, Real Cooking

The school was built for the job^[2]. The classes are small on purpose, with no more than 10 to 12 people^[1]. Every pair of cooks gets their own workstation, hob and oven, so nobody just watches^[1].

There is something for everyone. Parents and children can cook together in a half-day class. Full-day courses cover summer entertaining, cooking for family and friends, and an easy Christmas^[1].

The flagship is the two-day Home Chef course. It comes with a wine and cheese tasting, a walk around the garden and a look behind the scenes in the restaurant kitchen^[1]. Students go home with the food they cooked and a signed cookbook^[1].

The setting helps. The school sits in the foothills near the Fermanagh border, next to the restaurant and its garden, so students can see where the food on their plates is grown and cooked^[1]. The kitchen is bright and modern, fitted with induction hobs^[1].

Prices were clear from the start. In 2015 the two-day Home Chef course cost 495 euro, with all the ingredients included^[1]. Students even took home an apron and a bottle of rapeseed oil^[1].

Still Going Strong

More than a decade later, the school is still busy. In 2026 it was running courses such as Summer Entertaining and BBQ and a Parent and Child class^[2].

For Neven, teaching closes a circle. He learned to cook at his mother's side. Now he stands beside home cooks from all over Ireland and passes on what she taught him^[1][2].