Séamas O'Reilly: My dad loves to read about himself — for Father's Day I had to do him the honour 

"The celebration we’re enjoying this weekend has only really existed in the UK and Ireland since 1972, when my dad was already an adult and — quite conveniently for him — about to become a father himself."

Seamas O'Reilly. Picture: Orfhlaith Whelan

When I ask my father if he celebrated Father’s Day with his own dad, he tells me: “Oh, it’s very much a recent invention.” I pause. 

Since I’ve known of these festivities my entire life, and will be turning 40 next year, I wonder if it’s churlish to query his grasp on ‘recent’. I resist the urge.