Neven to cook up a storm for celebrity book fundraiser
The ‘Food for Hope’ book, in aid of the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association (IMNDA), contains mouth-watering recipes for Gabriel Byrne’s tasty chicken tangine with apricots, Irish rockers Aslan’s hearty Irish beef in Guinness, Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s stir-fried pork fillet, and the late Maeve Binchy’s potato cakes and mackerel smokies.
President Michael D Higgins and singer Chris de Burgh have also contributed to the book.
Maguire will officially launch the book at his cookery demonstration in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel convention centre in Cork on Wednesday.
All the funds raised from the cookery demo, and from the sales of the book, will help the IMNDA provide continuing support for people with motor neuron disease (MND) and their families, and also fund research into the incurable condition.
The cookbook is the brainchild of Cork woman, Katie Hallissey whose father John passed away from MND in 2010.
MND is a neurological disorder that selectively effects the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking and swallowing.
It is progressive, incurable and terminal. After diagnosis, life expectancy is between three to five years.
RTÉ sports broadcaster Colm Murray died last month after a long battle with the disease.
Katie, along with Marie Reavey of the IMNDA and Dolores MacKenna, a friend of the association, approached celebrities from all walks of life and asked them to submit their favourite recipes for the book. Katie said the response was overwhelming.
Poignantly, the late Maeve Binchy was one of the first to respond — her recipe arrived by post the morning after she passed away.
“We are extremely grateful that so many Irish celebrities have lent their support,” Katie said. “All monies raised on the night, as well as from the sale of the book, will go towards helping people living with motor neurone disease, their carers and families, in addition to the ongoing medical research into finding both a cause and a cure for this disease.
“I have seen at first hand the impressive work of the association so I ask everyone to come out in support of what will be a memorable event and buy a copy of the book.”
There are currently 329 patients in Ireland suffering from MND and just under 40 in Cork alone — the highest number outside of Dublin.
* Tickets, priced €20, for Maguire’s cookery demonstration can be bought on the door on the night.
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