John Joseph (Jackie) Needham was born on the 9th October 1933 in Cabra, the only son of a family of five children. At the age of 14 he started work in the Russell Hotel as a page boy and within a year he moved to the kitchens as a commis chef. He apprenticed under the famous Pierre Rolland and progressed to become the head chef of the Russell Hotel. As part of this training he had spent six months working in Lyons, France. In February 1960 he married Rita Hefellner, a young lady from Straubing, Bavaria, Germany, who had been working in the Russell Hotel as a housemaid from June- October 1959. They had five children, Marcus (1960), Rita (1962), Jutta (1963), Karen (1965) and Andy in (1973).

Jackie Needham was considered to be one of the most talented Irish chefs to emerge from the Russell Hotel and according to John Clancy, was a fantastic sauce chef. He worked on state banquets for many visiting dignitaries including John F. Kennedy. This archive contains a number of newspaper cuttings featuring Jackie and the Russell Hotel, menus and photographs of the staff, and some clearance documentation associated with state banquets and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Russell was awarded 3 stars by Egon Ronay when his guide first covered Ireland in the early 1960s and when the first Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland was published in 1974, the Russell was the only Dublin restaurant to be awarded a Michelin Star. On leaving the Russell, Jackie worked in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge c. 1972-3, the Central Hotel and then for National Catering in the ACC Headquarters. He had a massive heart attack on the 8th August 1984 and died, in the middle of Horse Show week, which had always been a busy week for Jackie.

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Submissions from 1973

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Menu for the Russell, Friday, 23rd. of April : the Restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Russell Hotel

Submissions from 1972

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First Salmon of '72 was a Late Biter: Newspaper Clipping, Newspaper

Submissions from 1970

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Letter of Authorisation for Jackie Needham to Enter the State Apartments in Dublin Castle for the Luncheon for President Kennedy, 5th. October, 1970, Sean Gaynor

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Jackie Needham in Chef Attire: Photograph, Jon Harsch and Sandy Harsch

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Letter from the Taoiseach Mr. Jack Lynch to Mr. I. Fabron, Manager of the Russell Hotel, Jack Lynch

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Jackie Needham at Work in the Kitchen of the Russell Hotel: Photograph, Jackie Needham

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Jackie Needham with a Member of Kitchen Staff in the Kitchen of the Russell Hotel: Photograph, Jackie Needham

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Jackie Needham with the Flower Arrangements from the Luncheon in Honour of President Nixon of the United States of America and his wife: Photograph, Jackie Needham

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Menu for a Lunchon Given by the Taoiseach Sean Lemass and his Wife in Honour of Richard Nixon, President of the Unitied States of America and his Wife, Office of the Taoiseach, Government of Ireland

Submissions from 1969

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Chefs of the Dublin Restaurants: Newspaper Clipping, Sandol Harsch

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Menu for the Russell, 23rd. of March, 1969: the Restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Dublin, Russell Hotel

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Menu for the Russell, Tuesday, 25rd. of February, 1969 : the Restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Russell Hotel

Submissions from 1968

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Menu for the Dinner to Mark the Occasion of the Opening of the Bank of America, Dublin, Thursday, September 19th., 1968, Bank of America

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Menu for the Lafayette, 29th. November, 1968: the restaurant of the Royal Hibernian Hotel, Dublin, Hibernian Hotel

Submissions from 1966

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Eating Out: Magazine Interview with Jackie Needham, Carlos Kenny

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Poor Cooking, Plain Puritanism: Newspaper Article, Mary Maher

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Menu for the Russell, November, 1966: the restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Dublin, Russell Hotel

Submissions from 1965

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Menu for the Robert Emmet Room, Russell Hotel, Dublin, Russell Hotel

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Menu for the Robert Emmet Room, Russell Hotel, Dublin, Russell Hotel

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Menu for the Russell, Tuesday, 26th.of October, 1965: the Restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Russell Hotel

Submissions from 1964

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Menu for the Russell, Monday,14th. December, 1964 : the Restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Russell Hotel

Submissions from 1963

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Invitation to a Dinner in Honour of the President of the United States, Thursday, 27th. June, 1963, Office of the Taoiseach, Government of Ireland

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Hotel Has Kennedy Signed Menu: Newspaper Clipping, Sunday Press Newspaper

Submissions from 1961

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Menu for the Russell, Wednesday, 16 August, 1961: the Restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Dublin, Russell Hotel

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Menu for the Russell, Wednesday, 5th. of July, 1961 :the Restaurant of the Russell Hotel, Russell Hotel

Submissions from 1960

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Menu for a Wedding Breakfast, 10th. of February, 1960 in the Royal Hibernian Hotel, Dublin, Hibernian Hotel

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Grattan of Prawns with Escalopes Bonne Femme: Eating in: Magazine Article, Jackie Needham`

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Jackie Needham and his Wife:Wedding Photograph, Jackie Needham

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Jackie Needham with 11 Kitchen Staff: Photograph, Jackie Needham

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Menu for Restaurant Jammet, Dublin, Restaurant Jammet

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Jackie Needham and Some of the Staff from the Russell Hotel: Photograph, Russell Hotel

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Menu for the Robert Emmet Room, Russell Hotel, Dublin, Russell Hotel

Submissions from 1949

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Jackie Needham and Some Kitchen and Waiting Staff Positioned Behind a Lavish Banquet Table in Iveagh House, December, 31st1949: Photograph, Iveagh House