Celebrities have your gift paper all wrapped up

LOOK out for the sheets of Irish celebrity-designed wrapping paper that will be tucked inside your daily newspaper next week.

This is the second year the Irish Examiner is giving away designer gift wrapping and, again this year, all proceeds will go to a chosen charity.

All the wrappings were designed by homegrown celebrities, especially for Irish Examiner readers. Rugby fans will particularly delight in the Christmas drawings that make up the Irish rugby team wrapping paper.

Luke Fitzgerald, Denis Leamy, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara all got in touch with their inner artist and the result is a truly quirky piece of memorabilia.

This year’s Irish Examiner Christmas charity is St Vincent de Paul.

The wrapping paper giveaway begins on Tuesday with Rachel Allen’s offering, followed by Peter Kelly’s (aka wedding designer Franc) on Wednesday, while Thursday’s wrapping paper showcases the Irish Examiner’s unique image archive.

The final sheet is the collective creative output of Luke Fitzgerald, Denis Leamy, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara.

St Vincent de Paul regional administrator Pádraig McCarthy said that many of their branches have doubled their requests for help over Christmas.

“We are extremely grateful for the support from the Irish Examiner and its readers. We have had a number of conferences who have warned us that their Christmas lists will be doubled this year. However, we have been bowled over by the willingness and generosity of spirit of people. We have had a huge increase in people offering to volunteer this year.

“We have also had a huge increase in support over Christmas from the corporate sector.”