John Wilhelm Oppermann

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John, mainly known as Johnny is the eldest son of Carl and Mary Oppermann and was born in 27 Synge Street, when he was three years old they moved to Homeville in Rathmines. He went to Synge Street for his early years of schooling and after to Newbridge College as a boarder. While in Newbridge boarding school Johnny played on the school Junior Cup Rugby Team. While in Newbridge Johnny also won a writing set when he competed and won a singing competition at which he sung the “Bacarole”, Johnny still has a lovely voice and does a fabulous rendering of “Danny Boy” and “My Mary of the Curling Hair”. Johnny loved dancing, golf and was also a nifty tennis player. As a young child Johnny modelled churches and castles out of sugar as a hobby and after leaving Newbridge, he decided upon catering as a career, this was against the advice of his father who said “you’ll only have pain and grief with the white jacket on”. His father did not succeed in changing Johnny’s mind and he commenced his training as a chef in 1932 at the Shelbourne Hotel. He earned 2s 6p per week and as a top apprentice of the year was given the princely sum of £1.00 for his work. Hard work, extremely long hours and very little time off were the order of the day. Johnny moved to London and worked in a number of hotels including the Princes Restaurant and the Norbery House Hotel, Drowich. During that time he gained the distinction of becoming the youngest Chef de Partie in the U.K. At the outbreak of World War 2 he returned to Ireland and took up a position in the Gresham Hotel. He then moved to Northern Ireland where he was head chef in the City Hotel in Derry, he left there and became Chief Steward to the American Forces with overall responsibility for the catering operations of the various bases. He remained for several more years in Northern Ireland in the Victoria Rooms in Belfast and then opened the Glens of Antrim Hotel in Cushendall. On returning to Dublin he opened the International Hotel in Bray and subsequently the Moira Hotel in Trinity Street.

In 1949 he joined Aer Rianta as Catering Manager for Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta which was one of the most notable positions in his career. Johnny was instrumental in the development of the outdoor catering service, which undertook many major functions such as Fairyhouse and other race meetings, the Spring and Horse Shows in the R.D.S. and many functions for overseas dignitaries who were visiting the country and indeed, his role extended into his playing a major part in the commercial development of the airport. He put the ‘Collar of Gold Restaurant’ located at Dublin Airport onto the social map making it one of the most popular places for dinner and functions in Dublin at the time. During his tenure the Airport restaurant was also awarded the distinction of the best European airport restaurant. Between 1964 and 1967 he was Chairman of the European Catering Committee which represented catering managers of all European airlines.

Johnny and three other partners who formed Cloughran Enterprises purchased the Coachmans Inn in Cloghran in 1962 which they sold some years later. Photo of Myriam Oppermann and Evie Kraftchuck outside Coachmans Inn.

In 1969 Johnny left Aer Lingus to start a family business in Kilternan, with his brother Willy and brother in law Joe Wall. The Oppermann Hotel and Country Club was opened in 1972, however, due to a number of external influences unfortunately the Hotel closed in early 1973. Some famous celebrities stayed at the hotel including, Muhammed Ali, Paul Newman and Sean Connery.

In June 1973 Johnny and Eileen bought a property in 9 James’s Terrace, Malahide, where they opened their restaurant “Johnny’s” on 1 December 1973. Johnny personally cooked for his customers while Eileen dealt with the other areas necessary to run the restaurant. This was an extremely successful restaurant. Johnny received a number of awards such as; Egon Ronay, Michelin, Board Failte Business Excellence Award and a UDT Business Excellence Endeavour award in 1982. On 17 March 1988, Johnny and Eileen sold their business and retired Johnny aged 70 and Eileen 56.

Johnny met Miriam Gallagher, the only daughter of Evelyn and Joseph Gallagher from Drogheda, while he was working in the Moira Hotel in 1947. Miriam’s parents had a very successful drapery business in Drogheda. She had two brothers Donal and Fergus. They were married on 11 April 1951 and had their wedding reception in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dunlaoghaire. In 1953 they had a son John who was still born. They lived in Santry, opposite the sports stadium and in 1954 their eldest daughter Michele was born. They then moved house to “Edelweiss”, at Cloughran which was located near the airport and in November 1959 their youngest daughter Jacqueline was born. Many great parties were held at Edelweiss, some of which made the papers. Johnny and Miriam were separated in 1965. Miriam died a number of years later on 13 November 1977.

On 15 January 1978 Johnny married Eileen Carton. They lived in 9 St. Jame's Terrace, Malahide for a number of years until their retirement in 1988 when they went to live in their retirement house Edelweiss in Blainroe, Wicklow. Eileen being a keen gardner always ensured the garden in the house was always colourful and fragrant. Both being keen golfers they played most days as their house is located beside Blainroe Golf Club where they had membership. Even in his retirement Johnny still cooked and did so until he was 98 years of age. He also loved entertaining and there were many great dinner parties had with his friends. In 1997 Johnny celebrated his 80th birthday and had a party to mark the occasion. Since his retirement he and Eileen did a number of functions for the Blainroe Golf Club social nights. After the cooking was finished, he would sit down with a smile on his face and say “I can still do it”. Johnny loved dancing and at social functions was more often seen on the dance floor than sitting down, thus he got the nickname “twinkle toes”. When not cooking or playing golf, Johnny enjoyed reading, looking at television; particularly his soaps, football, golf and rugby and shopping particularly in supermarkets. Johnny was very family orientated and loved meeting all the relations when family gatherings were held. He had a great sense of fun and was the ultimate practical joker, he also loved animals and in his last year of life was besotted with his dog Hanzi whom he got from his nephew William Oppermann. Johnny and Eileen could be described as “Darby and Joan” as some said they were joined at the hip; because where one was the other was not far behind.

In 2007, Johnny celebrated his 90th Birthday with a big bash in the Ballymascanlon Hotel in Dundalk, two days later he also had a family celebration at his home in Edelweiss in Blainroe. Both were very enjoyable parties. Johnny loved travelling and soaking up the sun, his favourite place was France and its cuisine, Eileen and himself spent many enjoyable holidays in the south of France and Italy. He was a very independent man and found it difficult at the age of 97 when he stopped driving. It took a lot of persuading to deter him from his brainwave that he would get a tricycle so he could get into Wicklow to shop.

In the summer of 2016, Johnny's health deteriorated and he passed away at 9.40 p.m. on Friday 7th October 2016.