Celebrity Chef Neven Maguire received a special award at a celebratory reception hosted by Cavan County Council in recognition of his culinary achievements and for promoting tourism in Cavan and Ireland.

This award is the highest honour Cavan County Council can award to one of its citizens and Neven was proudly joined by his family and friends for the occasion.

A multiple award winning Chef, Neven works from his family's MacNean House and Restaurant, Blacklion, Co. Cavan. Neven recently invested over 250,000 euro into extensively refurbishing the Guest House and Restaurant doubling its seating capacity, offering extended menu's of Neven's award-winning dishes and a large selection of wines from all over the world.

Newlyweds Neven and his wife, Amelda, got inspiration for new décor and recipes for the re-launched MacNean House and Restaurant from extensive travel and research in London, Paris, Australia and New Zealand and Thailand. The restaurant's new menu reflects Neven's continued advocacy of local and artisan producers and insistence on high quality, seasonal and traceable produce.

"This celebration today is a testament to the hard work and commitment my parents, family and the team at MacNean have shown over the years", says Neven. "I am so very proud to be receiving this award today from Cavan's County Council and will always support and promote my home county Cavan".

Neven's efforts have put Blacklion on the map, attracting visitors from all over Ireland and the world. Neven completed a tour of Boston and New York last year promoting Irish cuisine and many American visitors have booked into MacNean House and Restaurant this summer.

"I've lived in County Cavan all my life, and I'm thrilled to accept this award from the County Council," says Neven. "I am very happy to be investing and expanding in Cavan. I have just bought a new house with my wife Amelda and we're looking forward to a long future together in Cavan."

Since opening, MacNean House and Restaurant has won numerous Awards, recently collecting its latest plaudit, Georgina Campbell's Restaurant of the Year Award 2007. Neven has also achieved a string of prestigious awards including Bushmills Chef of the Year 1999 and 2000, Jameson Chef of the Year 2004 and the Georgina Campbell Natural Food Award 2006. Neven represented Ireland at the legendary Bocuse d'Or World Cuisine Competition in France in 2001 and MacNean Restaurant won the Best Restaurant in Ulster Food and Wine Magazine Award two years running in 2003 and 2004.

Neven was presented with this prestigious honour by Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Peter McVitty, recognising his culinary achievements and for his promotion of tourism and local food production in Co. Cavan.