Our best Christmas ever: ‘We got last-minute tickets to the Late Late Toy Show'

Weddings, families reunited, new pets all helped make Christmas extra special for these families

Clockwise from top-left: The Faheys celebrated Christmas with the addition of a new canine companion; Roderick and Siobhán Harte tied the knot; Evija Laua was reunited with her mam Lidija; Sandra and Derek Russell got suited and booted for the Toy Show.

Bagging last-minute tickets to the ‘Late Late Toy Show’

Nothing says Christmas quite like the Late Late Toy Show. Since its inception in the mid-70s, it has been a staple in Irish households — with the search and scramble for audience tickets beginning in November.

When Derek and Sandra Russell, from Ballyboden in Dublin 16 received word “at the last minute, only the day before” that they had managed to secure a pair of the coveted tickets, naturally they were delighted.

Sandra likens hearing the news to “the same feeling you get when you were kids going to see Santy”

“It’s most people’s dream to be able to go to The Toy Show. We were like big kids!”

Sandra and Derek Russell: "The Late Late Toy Show atmosphere was great, it really is like what you see on TV... smiley and cheery.”

Sandra describes what it was like when they arrived: “There was a small reception with everything decorated to perfection. The atmosphere was great, it really is like what you see on TV... smiley and cheery.”

Agreeing that the Toy Show has become a firm pre-Christmas tradition, Sandra points out that “people who have emigrated watch it all around the world whatever time of the day it is there”.

And was there ‘one for everyone in the audience’? “There was so many prizes and as we were a couple we both got a bag of goodies. This was brilliant because we could share them and gift them on to family.”

Keeping mum about a festive visitor from Latvia

Evija: "I heard a familiar voice singing Jingle Bells (in Latvian). I turned on the light and saw my mam laughing. It was such a special moment and the most special hug."

Paul Kane ( abcschoolofmotoring.com) and Evija Laua live in Athy, County Kildare with their sons Noel (14) and Harry (7).

In the run-up to Christmas 2024, Evija, originally from Latvia, wasn’t feeling very festive. Her mam, Lidija, would not be with them that year.

However Paul was working very hard behind the scenes... organising a special Christmas delivery.

As mother and daughter exchanged Christmas wishes by text on December 21, Lidija was already in the airport waiting to board. Paul then had to stay over with a friend as Lidija’s plane was late.

Surprise! Evija and Lidija

Getting back to Athy, the festive fun continued with Paul hiding the precious ‘cargo’ in the kitchen and then ringing Evija “to let her know I was locked out, and she had to come down to open the back door for me”.

Evija picks up the story and says that half asleep with no idea of the surprise she was about to discover: “I walked in the kitchen, I heard a familiar voice singing Jingle Bells (in Latvian). I turned on the light and saw my mam laughing. It was such a special moment and the most special hug with many questions. How? When?”

Paul says creating this experience for Evija really made Christmas feel magical, “not just for her, but also for the two boys” who found their grandmother the next morning, “hiding under the duvet”.

Newborn twins reunited for Christmas

All together at home: Richard and Edel O'Regan with babies Daniel and Emily 

Edel O’Regan, Schull, County Cork, was 22 weeks pregnant with twins when she was told twin-1 (Daniel) had a condition that meant he was growing at a slower pace than his sister, Emily.

Edel learned that this was a relatively normal occurrence on twin pregnancies with 33% ending in mortality. Flipping the statistic Edel focused instead on the 66% survival rate. She says it took some time for her to reframe this and both she and her husband Richard “made the
decision to be as positive as possible”.

“My most vivid memory of that time was attending the follow-up consultation and thinking the expression ’shaking like a leaf’, wasn’t just something someone made up. I was never so scared in my life.”

The following weeks of bed rest were filled with “a mixture of worry and anxiety. I just had to get them to 29 weeks”. Easier said than done, but regular scans every three days showed that Daniel was holding his own: “He was growing, slowly, but growing.”

At 34 weeks, the twins came into the world by Caesarean section. The O’Regans were cautioned not to expect any of the typical newborn behaviours such as crying or movement but according to Edel: “Daniel had other ideas and he came out screaming and kicking up a fuss.”

After four weeks in the Neonatal unit and just 14 days shy of Christmas, Emily was allowed home.

Two weeks later, on Christmas Eve, the O’Regans “received the best present of all” and brought Daniel home where he was “reunited with his twin sister”.

Four years on, Christmas remains a very special time for the family and they continue to uphold a poignant tradition when they drive through the Jack Lynch tunnel — the road that takes them past the hospital and home: “We lift our hands as we pass through and make a wish. I still get so emotional when I look at them and think of what might have been. We try to embrace every day because we know how close it came. We are the lucky ones, and we are so blessed.”

From Jingle Bells to wedding bells

Roderick and Siobhan Harte

Getting married is always a time to celebrate, and saying ‘I do’ at Christmas has an extra special ring to it.

As Roderick and Siobhán Harte had a Christmas engagement, a wedding at the same time of year seemed the perfect choice and so they married on December 28 in 2022 — holding their reception at The Shelbourne Hotel, St Stephen’s Green.

Roderick says the time of year was perfect: “It was great for everyone to have something to look forward to in the lull between Christmas and the New year and most people are off at the time anyway. People are already in a good mood and are looking to celebrate and have a party and the extra sparkle of Christmas adds a bit magic to the day.”

A lot of people might hold the opinion that tying the knot at the busiest time of year adds to the already present stress and chaos.

Roderick has this advice to share with those thinking of doing similar: “Have the most wonderful day. Christmas is magic, and so are weddings! Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy every second.”

Adopting a second dog

l-r Bear, Gracie (4), Danny (11), Tommy (10), Seánie (7) and Bonnie

The Fahey family, Danny (11) Tommy (10) Seánie (7) Gracie (4) live in Cahore, County Wexford.

Already ‘pawrents’ to Bear, their two-year-old Staffie, they spotted Bonnie on the social pages of The Haven Rescue (@thehavenrescue Instagram) and were immediately drawn to her.

Already having experience with the breed, the family felt “confident we could give her the support and understanding she needed”.

It wasn’t long before Bonnie came home to her forever family. Understandably nervous at first, the gang’s mother Leisha said: “Bonnie settled in incredibly quickly and bonded wonderfully with our kids. She has shown a gentle, affectionate temperament from day-one.”

The Faheys are mindful of the iconic slogan ‘dogs are for life, not just for Christmas’. It was for this reason they rescued rather than shopped. 

Leisha says it means a lot to the kids to help a dog who deserves a second chance: “They love knowing that by adopting Bonnie, they’re also supporting the rescue centre and the important work they do. Bonnie has completed our family in the best possible way, and we’re so grateful we were able to give her the safe, happy life she deserves.”