Without the wider 'Irish family' many expatriates would become lost

In this moving reflection on the Christmas season Irish expatriate Anna Marie O'Rourke reveals how she was rescued from a period of depression while living abroad through her involvement with Gaelic games.

Christmas comes but once a year but it’s a time of year that you can’t get away from.

You can’t turn a street corner without seeing lights, shops filled with decorations, Christmas tree markets and Santa Claus. It can be described as a magical time of the year, the season of goodwill. A time for sharing, receiving, holidays. Airports and train stations full with people all making their way “home”.