Clonmel’s Raheen House Hotel is one of Tipperary’s most atmospheric venues to celebrate Christmas, and Head Chef Ned Shoer is ready to make guests’ visits extra special with his team’s festive dishes.

Preparations for the hectic Christmas season began in Raheen House’s kitchen in May and the historic manor house hotel is hosting many large functions and work place Christmas dinner parties in its ballroom and two dining rooms this month.

Ned will finish work at teatime on Christmas Eve and head home to enjoy Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day with his family before returning to work early on December 27 for another busy week of catering for Yuletide diners.

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The Clonmel man, who is son of former Mayor of Clonmel, the late Billy Shoer and his wife Mary of Albert Street, will cook Christmas dinner for his wife Tricia and sons Charlie, Ethan and Brady at their Griffith Avenue home.

His advice for others cooking Christmas dinner is to prepare what you can the day before, get your seasoning right and incorporate seasonal flavours like cloves and mixed spices into dishes.

“If you are trying a new dish don’t wait until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to cook it first time.

“Do a trial run well in advance, and if you are not confident with cooking the dish, stick to what you know. Simplicity is best.”

The front entrance to the historic Raheen House Hotel in Clonmel

Ned has worked at Raheen House for 16 years. He brought to its kitchen a wealth of experience from working in restaurants and hotels in New Zealand and the UK and such noted Irish venues as Dublin’s Berkeley Court Hotel and Langtons in Kilkenny.

His passion for food and cooking developed in his teens while working part-time in the kitchen of Mulcahy’s in Clonmel, where he received a great grounding in culinary skills.

After his Leaving Cert, he trained at the former Cert School of Catering at Killarney’s Torc Great Southern Hotel and Cork Institute of Technology.

The father-of-three leads a team of four core kitchen staff at Raheen House, supplemented by part-time staff when needed.

Long-time colleague, sous chef Greg Krugielka, joined the hotel’s staff the same year as him.

Ned says he and his colleagues are a close-knit and loyal team, who receive huge support from the hotel’s owner Elizabeth Day and her daughter Cathy. For more information check out: www.raheenhouse.ie