An American's take on the 12 pubs of Christmas

RP O’Donnell has made Ireland home in every way but one – the American can’t get his head around our attitude to drink, especially when it comes to the 12 pubs of Christmas.

The Irish, particularly the ones that I have enthusiastically chosen to spend the rest of my life with, are extremely laid back. The tracker mortgage scandal was met with a shrug. The gardaí scandal — a shrug. The second gardaí scandal — a shrug. The third, fourth and fifth gardaí scandals — two shrugs, then the Graham Norton show.