2020 has been a year unlike any in living memory. It began with a General Election which almost certainly changed the course of Irish politics for the next several decades. The two-party domination of the Dáil, which had endured for over ninety years, was swept away by voters in the midst of a housing and […]
Handel’s Messiah was the soundtrack to Christmas Day in our house. It was a bit, or more likely totally, above our heads but it gradually, over many years, soaked up the strangeness and wonder, the mysterious otherworldliness of Christmas. The smells and tastes, the treats, the novelties that the kindly Santa left for us on […]
As Niamh pointed out here several weeks ago, those cancelling the Christmas are in good company. Cromwell would not be the sort of chap you would normally name check when issuing decrees. Nor would the Bolsheviks, Nazis and the current Chinese regime who have also attempted to out rightly suppress the most important celebration in […]
Right, it’s Christmas Eve, which means it’s time to stop worrying about Brexit, and Coronvirus, and the news in General, and focus on the things that are really important. In that spirit, here’s a ranking of the top ten Christmas Carols, from the bang average, to the really superb. We’re going to call on some […]
The Iraqi parliament has unanimously voted to make Christmas Day an official state holiday.
Forty-five years ago, the English rock band Supertramp released the album Crisis? What Crisis? It was almost universally panned by critics as an assault upon the ears of anyone unfortunate enough to hear it. But I reckon that despite these musical misgivings, it remains the album of choice for the various Christmas parties held by […]
The Rural Independents Group has said that “the lack of a plan” in regard to Covid-19 “has left Ireland facing the toughest Christmas in living memory”. Speaking this morning, the leader of the Rural Independent Group, Deputy Mattie Mc Grath said: “My colleagues and I in the Rural Independent Group have spent the last nine […]
Earlier this month, my sister, my friend Melissa, and I were brainstorming about what to give our boys for Christmas. What do you get kids who have so much already? “First world problem,” noted my sister, who has spent time volunteering in India and Malawi. So. true. Kids don’t need all the latest high-tech toys. As […]
It’s been an exceedingly tough year for Irish businesses, so with just a few days to go for online orders here’s some great ideas for gifts from local companies – including streamed concerts and a glass of good cheer. Amazon doesn’t need your support or your cash for more junk made in China, so have a […]
“It has not yet been decided how many people can visit each other at Christmas.” So read a recent Irish Times report on the imminent scaling back of Covid restrictions. Many of us have become so accustomed to being instructed by government officials how to conduct our private life that this sort of statement, instead […]
“Who the hell do they think they are giving us permission to have 50 people in? They should mind their own business and let us live our lives and let the people be responsible for their own health.”
We’re going to let you have turkey but there’ll be absolutely no hugging, says Nphet and their fellow Scrooges. ‘Maybe one glass of wine but inspectors will be calling to check on the seating”. It’s all for our own good, the government agrees, though Golfgate and and then RTEgate has led many to question whether […]