#Christmas

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

The Mick Clifford Podcast: The Monk walks — Sean Murray
The Mick Clifford Podcast: Looking back at the big stories from 2024
Irish Examiner reporter Sean Murray joins Mick to chew over some of the big stories from 2024

 Listen | Thu, 26 Dec, 2024

 Listen |
Increase as more than 800 children contact Childline over Christmas 
Increase as more than 800 children contact Childline over Christmas 
According to new data from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 820 kids contacted the 24-hour helpline

Thu, 26 Dec, 2024

Esther McCarthy: My cup runneth over — why can’t I buy a solid sports bra that fits?
Esther McCarthy: My magical Cork Christmas movie plot
"“Bygob, if it isn’t young Sheelagh, back from the big schmoke, here to help her ailing father save the family farm,” [the elderly man] says, helpfully for the audience."

Wed, 25 Dec, 2024

Gareth O'Callaghan: Finding comfort in the mystery of grief during the Christmas season
Gareth O'Callaghan: Finding comfort in the mystery of grief during the Christmas season
As we grow older, we become more cynical, which is sad. Cynicism is not healthy, but, thankfully, strange things happen at Christmas that are beyond our control, writes Gareth O'Callaghan

Wed, 25 Dec, 2024

In Pictures: Thousands take to sea for Christmas Day swims in support of good causes
In Pictures: Thousands take to sea for Christmas Day swims in support of good causes
Thousands of swimmers took to the water for charity swims on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in conditions somewhat milder than in previous years.

Wed, 25 Dec, 2024

A Christmas spent lighting up the lives of others — one good deed at a time
A Christmas spent lighting up the lives of others — one good deed at a time
Arlene Harris talks to people who will spend their Christmas helping others in need, providing delicious meals, being on standby in case of emergencies, and even delivering gifts

Wed, 25 Dec, 2024

Secret Santas: Meet two very different men suiting up to bring magic and joy this festive season
Secret Santas: Meet two very different men suiting up to bring magic and joy this festive season
For around a month every year, these two secret Santas are the centre of attention at Christmas festivals and grottoes. They tell Ellie O'Byrne about the emotions and joy it brings, which makes it worth the year-round work it takes

Wed, 25 Dec, 2024

Unwrapped Pieces of Holiday Wrapping Paper Isolated on Floor
Checked Luggage: Patrick Holloway writes the Irish Examiner's Christmas short story
"Christmas songs sour the room. Neighbours walk past their house in groups of hats and scarves. Kids skip. He wonders if his dad is in a coffin yet."

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

'All I want for Christmas': What's on Cork pupils' Santa wishlist
'All I want for Christmas': What's on Cork pupils' Santa wishlist
Lego and Barbies are firm favourites with the first and second class pupils of St Finn Barre’s National School — Brussel sprouts not so much

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

Watch: Richard E Grant among thousands arriving into Cork Airport for Christmas
Watch: Richard E Grant among thousands arriving into Cork Airport for Christmas
The actor is spending the holiday season with friends in Cork 

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, keep dreaming
If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, keep dreaming
There's always next year...

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

Irish Examiner view: A free and fair media is vital to a free and fair life
Irish Examiner view: A free and fair media is vital to a free and fair life
As we turn into a new year, we are witnessing, whether we like it or not, a huge decline in the effectiveness of those entities to bring to us news and reportage which is truthful, credible, and sustainable

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

Fergus Finlay: This time of year, we all need something good to believe in
S Fergus Finlay: This time of year, we all need something good to believe in
Santa Claus is coming. If you believe, he can really help to ease whatever pain and heartache is hurting you, writes Fergus Finlay

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024

Pictures of Real Santa Claus's List He's Checking Twice
S Terry Prone: Santa’s old-fashioned parenting tricks for the naughty and the nice
Santa may be all ho ho ho and product placement but, when it comes right down to it, you know you shouldn’t cross him

Mon, 23 Dec, 2024

'No turkeys this year' for certain Limerick customers as Mary shuts up shop
'No turkeys this year' for certain Limerick customers as Mary shuts up shop
Mary Breen, who has for over 40 years reared free range turkeys at Cullen, has decided to call it a day

Mon, 23 Dec, 2024

The Toy Collectors: Model citizen relives ancient battles in miniature and through re-enactments
The Toy Collectors: Model citizen relives ancient battles in miniature and through re-enactments
Shane Kent's home is besieged by hundreds of soldiers all fully armed and ready for battle. But fear not, the armies are in fact tiny models of ancient warriors that Shane paints and customises in exquisite detail 

Mon, 23 Dec, 2024

The Toy Collectors: 'My daughter loved her dolls, so they remind me of her'
The Toy Collectors: 'My daughter loved her dolls, so they remind me of her'
Carol Flanagan, 60, is now the owner of 70 dolls, a modest figure when compared to her earlier collection, which she estimates was in the hundreds

Mon, 23 Dec, 2024

HEATHER NASH
The Toy Collectors: 'You're never too old for dolls — or too young for models'
Sarah Horgan meets two very different toy collectors whose pastimes, while providing lots of joy, also spark their ambitions for the future 

Mon, 23 Dec, 2024

The Toy Collectors: 'Trains are fantastic... everybody likes a train on Christmas Day'
The Toy Collectors: 'Trains are fantastic... everybody likes a train on Christmas Day'
Sarah Horgan experiences what is believed to be the largest train set of its kind in an Irish home, the models can be controlled by a total of three people at a time

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024

Magic moments: What's made Christmas Day special for Irish people over the years
Magic moments: What's made Christmas Day special for Irish people over the years
Ahead of the Christmas holidays, Deirdre McArdle asked 43 Irish people what makes the day special for them.

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024

SANTA HAT ON BEACH
The Christmas swims taking place around Ireland and how you can take part
The countdown to Christmas is definitely on — so if you're planning a seasonal dunk then check out this list which includes couple of handy pre-Christmas swims too

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024

What hours are Dunnes, Tesco, and M&S open over Christmas?
What hours are Dunnes, Tesco, and M&S open over Christmas?
For all those last-minute jobs and shop runs, here’s what you need to know about supermarket hours this Christmas

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024

children with xmas presents
Mick Clifford: The children with the least deserve the most Christmas magic
The magic these children deserve is to have a place they can call home from which they can develop and grow and be better prepared to tackle the turbulent straits that life will inevitably throw up, writes Mick Clifford

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024

Phoebe Edmondson: 'When I walked up to the front door, it was what you see in all the movies'
Phoebe Edmondson: 'When I walked up to the front door, it was what you see in all the movies'
The Waterford-born interior designer and Instagram star shows her Boston home and reveals how to create the ultimate Christmas haven

Sat, 21 Dec, 2024

Christmas Trifle
Michelle Darmody: How to make this zabaglione trifle — and the mistakes to avoid
"Zabaglione adds a very tasty layer in place of a more typical custard. In fact the zabaglione can be served on its own if you do not have the time or energy to create a trifle."

Sat, 21 Dec, 2024

Brussels Sprouts Made Simple: Cook these holiday heroes quickly for a Christmas classic
Brussels Sprouts Made Simple: Cook these holiday heroes quickly for a Christmas classic
"...I adore deciding what we will do with these tiny little cabbages each Decemberm and understand why many have a deep dislike for the waterlogged sprouts of our youth..."

Sat, 21 Dec, 2024

Colin Sheridan: A homecoming like no other for Syrians
Colin Sheridan: A homecoming like no other for Syrians
The memory of a poignant Christmas ad has resonated even more this year

Sat, 21 Dec, 2024

Watch: Ireland’s most prolific toy collectors share their stories
Watch: Ireland’s most prolific toy collectors share their stories
The Toy Collectors show off their collections

Sat, 21 Dec, 2024

The Toy Collectors: 'I love taking something home and giving it a second lease of life' 
The Toy Collectors: 'I love taking something home and giving it a second lease of life' 
The 37-year-old’s Mallow property is heaving with nostalgia

Sat, 21 Dec, 2024

The Toy Collectors: How quitting smoking gave birth to a 3,525-strong porcelain doll collection
The Toy Collectors: How quitting smoking gave birth to a 3,525-strong porcelain doll collection
A trip to a car boot sale in West Cork as a distraction from cigarettes and the impulse purchase of five porcelain dolls proved a fateful day for Schull couple Mary and Billy O’Keeffe

Sat, 21 Dec, 2024

Watch: High emotion, family reunions, and true Christmas spirit at Cork Airport
Watch: High emotion, family reunions, and true Christmas spirit at Cork Airport
There were carols, hugs, presents — and more than a few tears of joy — as hundreds of the Irish abroad returned home to Cork Airport 

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

'I don’t get any pain when I’m playing': Dancer and camogie player is a scoliosis success story
'I don’t get any pain when I’m playing': Dancer and camogie player is a scoliosis success story
11-year-old Helen Gleeson's parents are delighted with her progress — but they also offer support for parents who face delays getting scoliosis treatment

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

Entrance by road to Holyhead port for sailings to the Irish Republic. Thuresday 13th May 2004.
Irish and Welsh leaders pledge to review progress on Holyhead port in new year
The busy ferry port in Anglesey, North Wales, was forced to close following damage during Storm Darragh and is not set to reopen until January 15 at the earliest

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

White wine for Christmas Holidays celebration
Wine with Leslie: Last-minute bottles for gift-giving, and what to have with the big dinner
"...red is preferable, juicier reds such as Brunello, Southern Rhône or elegant Burgundy or Pinot Noir work better than Bordeaux — but if you want Bordeaux that’s fine too; it is a day of celebration..."

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

Plastic or pine: Which Christmas tree is the greenest choice?
Plastic or pine: Which Christmas tree is the greenest choice?
Real trees sequester carbon while they're growing, and they can be chipped and composted afterwards. You need to reuse artificial trees for at least 10 to 20 years to offset their production emissions

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

Boy, 6, worried Santa won't come to children in Palestine is carol singing to raise funds
Boy, 6, worried Santa won't come to children in Palestine is carol singing to raise funds
At time of writing, Tom's GoFundMe campaign has raised €1,495 from 68 donations, despite only having a €100 goal

Fri, 20 Dec, 2024

Comfort Food Pumpkin Soup with Roasted Bacon
Caitríona Redmond: My roasted butternut & sweet potato soup is the perfect big-dinner starter
"I have a big crowd to feed on Christmas Day and if I’m not prepared, we could be eating some very lovely sandwiches but that’s it."

Thu, 19 Dec, 2024

Flowers parnell square
'Christmas will be special': Girl injured in Parnell Square attack to spend festive season at home
Their 'little girl', who is now in her third week at home, is preparing to spend the festive season with her family

Thu, 19 Dec, 2024

Last-minute beauty gifts under €40 — from your local pharmacy or supermarket 
Last-minute beauty gifts under €40 — from your local pharmacy or supermarket 
At this stage in the game, you might feel nervous about online delivery times. Fear not, as there are lots of exceptional beauty gifts to be found in your local supermarket and pharmacy. Here are some of our top picks.

Thu, 19 Dec, 2024

Michael Moynihan: The tradition of spiced beef in Cork goes a long way back
S Michael Moynihan: The tradition of spiced beef in Cork goes a long way back
If you have lived somewhere in Ireland beyond the borders of Cork then you will be familiar with a Christmastime sidle, a stealthy approach which occurs at roughly the same point in December every year.

Thu, 19 Dec, 2024

Silent Nights In: Nine ways to wear Christmas pyjamas
Silent Nights In: Nine ways to wear Christmas pyjamas
"After burning the Christmas candle at both ends, now’s the time to pour a glass of mulled wine, grab the Selection Box, and engage prone position on the sofa before the festive hijinks recommence in, oh, a few hours."

Wed, 18 Dec, 2024

TV's Rob Rinder: January is the worst time of year to be making resolutions
Rob Rinder: January is the worst time of the year to be making resolutions
The broadcaster, barrister and author talks about his love of cold swimming, hot runs, and what he thinks is the ultimate 'key' to wellbeing

Wed, 18 Dec, 2024

Irish travelling home via Holyhead for Christmas make ‘costly’ new arrangements
Irish travelling home via Holyhead for Christmas make ‘costly’ new arrangements
All ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead are currently cancelled, affecting thousands of Irish people travelling home from the UK for Christmas

Wed, 18 Dec, 2024

Social Welfare office
Here's when social welfare payments will be paid over Christmas
The Government has confirmed a number of changes have been made to dates on which a number of social welfare payments will be available over the Christmas period

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

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