Yule know when it’s silly season...

A WELL-KNOWN Dublin hotel had visitors doing a double take this week as they were met with the sight of a Christmas tree in the lobby, staff handing out mince pies and other festive frolics.

However, by tomorrow it will be back to autumnal normality at the Clarion Dublin Airport Hotel as the week-long festivities come to an end.

But elsewhere, barely a week after the children returned to school, it seems that the festive season is already underway: Brown Thomas department stores have started their yuletide displays.

Staff at the Clarion at Dublin Airport yesterday defended the hotel against accusations that they are trying to start the Christmas season earlier than ever and explained that the festive decor was just a week-long promotion for the December party season.

General manager Andrew O’Neill said that the promotion, following a Grease musical theme, was aimed at customers who frequent the hotel and may be interested in holding their Christmas party on the premises. He said that, on Wednesday night, American tourists were taking photographs around the Christmas tree.

But at Brown Thomas department stores, the Christmas countdown has already begun.

A tree was erected on the third floor of the chain’s flagship Dublin store on Wednesday with the amount of decorations and displays set to increase by the day.

“Every year it’s getting earlier and earlier,” said a spokesperson.

“Last year it was October and the year before it was November.”

A staff member said that there was “a good few people coming in, buying bits and pieces”.

The Cork version of Brown Thomas already has its Christmas shop in place, she said.

Penneys will not be putting up Christmas material for some weeks yet, in line with previous years.

A staff member at their store on Cork’s St Patrick’s Street said that they wouldn’t be following any other shops who put up displays earlier than that. “It’s normally the end of September.”