Brown Thomas appears strangely empty until the progeny and I click that not every day is Christmas Eve, our more usual visitation time, when we are invariably in frantic pursuit of whatever item of makeup will be the making or breaking of Current Wife’s Christmas but today is a midweek morn during the height of holiday season.

The Chef’s Table by Stefan Matz, Delphi Adventure Resort, Leenane, Connemara, Co Galway; 095-42208; delphiadventureresort.com