Tell me about christmas in Ireland (admin update in post 89)

amyfitz91

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Admin update here.
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Hi Guys,

My name is Amy and I live San Francisco California. My Dad is Irish, he came over here to work in the 80's where he met my Mom and they've had me (22) and my little sister (17).

My Dad is from the west of Ireland and we've been back there almost every year. Some of my first memories are in Ireland. I absolutely adore Ireland and although it's my Dad's home and not mine I always feel at home here.

My poor father always gets terribly homesick at Christmas, even though he's been here for almost thirty years. He loves Christmas here in Cali but says there is nothing like an Irish Christmas back home in Mayo. He always tells us stories of meeting up with his extended family on Christmas Eve and then a huge Christmas dinner with his immediate family on Christmas Day. He also raves about midnight mass, the late late toy show and the lovely feeling around his town in the lead up to Christmas. He hasn't been home for Christmas since he left. So, this year, my sister and I are both in college and have a six week Christmas break for the holidays. My Dad is now a surgeon and always takes anytime he we have off over the holidays off and my Mom stays at home.

So, our family have decided to bring Dad home for the holidays. We're going to leave here on Nov 27th and return to Cali on Jan 2nd. The only thing is, he doesn't know about it. We will be telling him this weekend. His parents who are both still alive and brothers and sisters all know and are so so happy. My aunt told me that we'd even be home for the late late toy show which has made me so happy. This way we can let dad do all the things he did back when he was 21 the year before he left Ireland in the lead up to Christmas. He can go shopping to Dublin for a day like he used to and get in the festive mood and then enjoy the big days over the holidays. I am so excited to do this for him because he has done so much for all of us.

So I have some questions. What is Ireland like over the holidays? Is the country as crazy about Christmas as the US is? Dad is from Mayo so what are the chances of us having a white Christmas? He's the only one in our family who's ever had one? What is Dublin like over the holidays? We'll be bringing Dad there for a night or two.

Also, if any of you have any suggestions of things to do over the holidays in Ireland with Dad please let us know? I cannot contain my excitement!

Thank You,
Amy

darahiggins

awesome! i always had christmas in mayo with my grandparents so v nostalgic about it. chances are good for a white christmas because its freezing over here at the moment. you probably wont get the toy show in as its on usually in early december. Ireland is crazy about christmas, its a fantastic place to be in terms of socialising and there is always a very christmassy feel to the place but i suppose it comes down to the family you spend it with at the end of the day. Dublin is great, christmas decorations are already hanging in the main shopping centres. hope you have a fantastic christmas, your dad is a lucky guy

Nollaig Shona Dhuit! (Happy Christmas)

miss no stars

Ah that sounds great for your dad. Don't bank on a white Christmas, the weather here is very changeable but at the moment it's looking like quite a cold winter. The toy show this year is on the 30th November so you should be here for it, a real treat . I suppose Christmas is much like in the USA, lots of family and friends, exchanging presents and so on. You might enjoy going to a Christmas Market and one thing I've been meaning to do for years and am only getting around to this year is to go to the national craft fair (in Dublin, so it might or might not work out with the timing of you trip to Dublin. Website here: http://www.nationalcraftsfair.ie/)

Not having spent a Christmas in the USA I can't say for certain what the differences/similarities are, but I'm sure they aren't that big and you should enjoy the trip.

angel_wings

Not sure of the similarities/differences tbh but just wanted to say thank you for the post, it is really lovely! I can only imagine the way your Dad is gonna feel when yous tell him this weekend
I wish you's a safe journey over and hope you all have a wonderful Irish Christmas

Eastcoastryan

amyfitz91 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

My name is Amy and I live San Francisco California. My Dad is Irish, he came over here to work in the 80's where he met my Mom and they've had me (22) and my little sister (17).

My Dad is from the west of Ireland and we've been back there almost every year. Some of my first memories are in Ireland. I absolutely adore Ireland and although it's my Dad's home and not mine I always feel at home here.

My poor father always gets terribly homesick at Christmas, even though he's been here for almost thirty years. He loves Christmas here in Cali but says there is nothing like an Irish Christmas back home in Mayo. He always tells us stories of meeting up with his extended family on Christmas Eve and then a huge Christmas dinner with his immediate family on Christmas Day. He also raves about midnight mass, the late late toy show and the lovely feeling around his town in the lead up to Christmas. He hasn't been home for Christmas since he left. So, this year, my sister and I are both in college and have a six week Christmas break for the holidays. My Dad is now a surgeon and always takes anytime he we have off over the holidays off and my Mom stays at home.

So, our family have decided to bring Dad home for the holidays. We're going to leave here on Nov 27th and return to Cali on Jan 2nd. The only thing is, he doesn't know about it. We will be telling him this weekend. His parents who are both still alive and brothers and sisters all know and are so so happy. My aunt told me that we'd even be home for the late late toy show which has made me so happy. This way we can let dad do all the things he did back when he was 21 the year before he left Ireland in the lead up to Christmas. He can go shopping to Dublin for a day like he used to and get in the festive mood and then enjoy the big days over the holidays. I am so excited to do this for him because he has done so much for all of us.

So I have some questions. What is Ireland like over the holidays? Is the country as crazy about Christmas as the US is? Dad is from Mayo so what are the chances of us having a white Christmas? He's the only one in our family who's ever had one? What is Dublin like over the holidays? We'll be bringing Dad there for a night or two.

Also, if any of you have any suggestions of things to do over the holidays in Ireland with Dad please let us know? I cannot contain my excitement!

Thank You,
Amy

What a lovely post.. Your Dad is really lucky to have a daughter like you. Personally, I think Ireland is an amazing place at Christmas. There is a lovely atmosphere and I have happy memories of Dublin City Centre at Christmas Time. You mentioned The Late Late Toy Show, this really is a Christmas institution and is the most watched TV Show of the year. For me, that is when Christmas really starts. One of my favourite days is Christmas Eve, usually it means meeting friends and family in the local pub. Snow at Christmas is rare but we had a proper White Christmas in 2010 with snow for the week leading up to Christmas. You never know, it might happen this year. Make sure when you get over here to tune into Christmas FM, they come on air at the end of November and is the perfect soundtrack.

Like I said, There is nowhere like Ireland at Christmas, it's the biggest day of the year. Enjoy it and I hope it just as good as your Dad remembers it.

Ryan

ballsymchugh

does anyone have any contacts in RTE? this should get on the toy show!!

darahiggins

ballsymchugh wrote: »

does anyone have any contacts in RTE? this should get on the toy show!!

absolutely! great shout

meoklmrk91

darahiggins wrote: »

absolutely! great shout

Definitely, I know tickets are hard to come by but I think it would be lovely.

Well Amy,
You might not get a white Christmas but you will atleast get a few hard frosty mornings, which are lovely to go walking in as it is so peaceful. We are being warned that we are in for a hard winter, very cold with lots if snow, but we were all waiting for that last year and it never came. Could still happen though.

We love Christmas in Ireland, so there will be lots of events on and lots of shopping to do! Decorations everywhere, but while it might seem silly to be watching the TV while you are visiting keep an eye on commercials, we have some great Christmas ads which have been around for years, the most infamous of which is the coca cola ad, which always meant the start of Christmas for me and many others, the corn flakes ad and my personal favourite the Guinness ad.

Whatever you do make sure that you all pack warm clothes, it's very cold here at the moment!

Loughc

Hi Amy,

what a lovely first post, it certainly has captured the imaginations of all the boardies here, me included.

Firstly welcome to boards.ie and especially welcome to the Christmas Forum its nice and snug in here so enjoy your stay!

Keep an eye on this forum for upcoming events to go to and to watch out for. Also when you arrive check out local newspapers for any events on in the area, I'm not from the Mayo region myself so I couldn't help you there. But I'm sure you'll great loads of great tips from the guys here this really is a great place to discuss Christmas in Ireland, you are in safe hands.

Welcome again and enjoy your stay!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=374
Keep an eye on the weather forum to see if it will be a white Christmas - there are lots of variables and it is too soon to tell what the weather would be like at Christmas - to get snow in Mayo you would probably want cold wet air coming from the Arctic (north).

The last few years the cold has come from the east (Siberia essentially) and has dumped the snow on the east coast (Dublin)

Samhain

I hope you all have a lovely christmas in Mayo and your Dad rekindles his nostalgis for the ould sod.

Dont mean to burst your bubble but prolonged snow is the last thing you want if you are coming here on Holidays. I agree it is nice for a few days but it gets old very quickly when you cant go anywhere for 3 weeks.
In 2009 and 2010 the place came to a complete standstill and it was impossible to get anywhere (especially in Mayo where i live). It ruined the usual lovely family Christmas for us as nobody could get from A to B to visit friends and relatives, go the pub etc. I know loads of people in rural areas who could not get out of their homes for days as the roads were impassible.

I realise i am leaving myself open to the Bah humbug brigade but it is a major issue if it happens.

lisa_celtic

I have never missed a Christmas at home in all my 25 years although last year I split it between my family and his. All my plans are weather permitting as I live in Roscommon, home is Tipperary and boyfriends home is Sligo!

This year I finish work the 21st, I will go home (2 hours drive) on Christmas Eve morning. Will hang around with my nieces and nephews all day get some of their excitement. Go to mass at 8pm ( I only go at Christmas) and then to the pub for a few drinks, I will leave the pub be raging that i have to walk the two miles home as there will be no taxis working at 2am

Christmas Morning, I will get up go to my brothers house as my niece and nephew open there santa gifts go from there to my sisters to watch them open there gifts back to my mothers for lunch at 1.00pm (very early i know!) and then hop in the car and drive four hours to my boyfriends house (he will be with me down home to.)

We will have a very quite st stephens night this year as we will be going to Dublin the 27th and fly out to Las Vegas for New Years!

Rasmus

What a lovely post!! You are the sweetest person to do this for your dad - please let us know his reaction when you tell him!

You might not have a white Christmas but there's a chance you'll get some snow over the Christmas season - it has been pretty cold this winter so far.

Not only that, but Donegal's favourite weatherman (Postman Michael Gallagher!) has said he is “99% sure” the country will suffer heavy falls of snow. He was right about the snowpocalyse in 2010.
Apparently lots of berries at this time of year means it will be a very cold one (and there are many berries) : )

Has anyone forwarded this thread to RTE? I bet they'd entertain the idea of having a shout out for the family on the Toy Show, and they would more likely than not offer tickets. OP do you think you dad would like that?

The Discover Ireland website has a great event guide, and you could check out the Mayo site (http://www.mayo.ie/dnn/Home.aspx#.UJrIUIdrjJU)

There will also be loads of Christmas and farmers markets to check out all over the West. You will find yourself spoilt for choice in Dublin for things to do.

Good luck!

amyfitz91

Thank you all so much for your lovely replies. My Dad has been called away to a conference this weekend so we will be telling him tonight. I am so excited I can barely sit down.
As for the the late late toy show I don't think Dad would really be up for that. He's an extremely private person and I think all he wants to do is sit at home in my Grandparent's house and watch it in his own surroundings. It is a lovely sentiment though.
My sister and I are going to take a trip to the mall soon so we can keep ourselves occupied til Dad comes home. We'll be looking into what to bring on the trip while we're there. We can not believe we're leaving so soon!

Again, Thank You, Your little messages are so lovely,
Amy

paddy147

You could be in for a White Christmass here in Ireland this year.

Long term forecasts are not good.

This was 23rd and 24th December (Christmass Eve) 2010 for me stuck in Dublin Airport.:(:D

paddy147

4 wheel drive was the only way to get around in 2010 (and even then you could get a tad stuck).

darahiggins

amyfitz91 wrote: »

Thank you all so much for your lovely replies. My Dad has been called away to a conference this weekend so we will be telling him tonight. I am so excited I can barely sit down.
As for the the late late toy show I don't think Dad would really be up for that. He's an extremely private person and I think all he wants to do is sit at home in my Grandparent's house and watch it in his own surroundings. It is a lovely sentiment though.
My sister and I are going to take a trip to the mall soon so we can keep ourselves occupied til Dad comes home. We'll be looking into what to bring on the trip while we're there. We can not believe we're leaving so soon!

Again, Thank You, Your little messages are so lovely,
Amy

let us know how it goes!

WoollyRedHat

If you're in Dublin, try catch a christmas-themed play or pantomine, they're always fun. The Christmarkets in Dublin can be good too. The singers on Grafton St. are a good traditin and invoke a lively buzz and great atmosphere among all the rushing shoppers.

What we used to do every year was go to our local Christmas Carol service, there was something always lovely about that.

Anita Blow

Very nice first post!
I have family from America who recently spent their first Christmas here (At home in Mayo coincidentally!) and they loved it. If you're anywhere near Westport, the Quay Cottage restaurant down in Cinnamon Wharf was where we went on New Years and it was really nice.
Dublin is unbelievable at Christmas. Decorations are already being put up in the streets and the city looks brilliant, especially Grafton Street and George's Dock.
There'll be a Christmas Fair down at George's Dock which you should definitely go to. It has loads of handmade christmas presents and mulled wine.
Also be prepared for the World's best Christmas ads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVudFaYSjq0

amyfitz91

You guys are all so helpful and your replies have been the nicest things ever. We told Dad last night after an 8am-10pm day doing surgery. At first he really thought we were kidding him, it wasn't until we showed him the confirmation emails that he really believed us and then the only way I can describe his reaction was that of a kid on Christmas morning.
He was dead silent for a minute, just taking it all in, then cried like a baby and then walked around the house with the biggest ever and then bombed into the pool in celebration! He spent the rest of the night (after he had dried off) telling us of all the amazing things we could do together and how lovely Ireland is at Christmas.
His reaction has just made this amazing and I can't wait to fly over here in a couple of weeks.

Amy

angeldaisy

amyfitz91 wrote: »

You guys are all so helpful and your replies have been the nicest things ever. We told Dad last night after an 8am-10pm day doing surgery. At first he really thought we were kidding him, it wasn't until we showed him the confirmation emails that he really believed us and then the only way I can describe his reaction was that of a kid on Christmas morning.
He was dead silent for a minute, just taking it all in, then cried like a baby and then walked around the house with the biggest ever and then bombed into the pool in celebration! He spent the rest of the night (after he had dried off) telling us of all the amazing things we could do together and how lovely Ireland is at Christmas.
His reaction has just made this amazing and I can't wait to fly over here in a couple of weeks.

Amy

First time i've posted in this forum, but I just wanted to wish you all a wonderful trip over, I'm in tears thinking about how wonderful a thing it is you are all doing for your dad. Hope you have the best time ever:D

carrig2

What a feel-good story. As good as a Xmas film.

Moonbeam

Aww:)
I hope you have an amazing time with your dad in Ireland this christmas:)

Sound of Silence

I always thought that the Guinness Christmas advert was the closest to catching the the whole Christmassy feel in Ireland.

amyfitz91

Yes that commercial is making me so crazy excited!

paddy147

Sound of Silence wrote: »

I always thought that the Guinness Christmas advert was the closest to catching the the whole Christmassy feel in Ireland.

Sure they are all at it now.:rolleyes:

Last year it was Dunnes Stores with the snow falling and all the family around the table carving the turkey and pulling christmass crackers.


This year SuperValue have more or less coppied the exact same ad,and added their name and food into it instead.


Guinness ad was/is by far the best and most original looking.:)

rebel89

This is the nicest thread thats been on Boards in a long time:) I really hope ye have an amazing time and it takes your dad back to his childhood:)
Also, that Guinness add is where christmas starts for me!

Overflow

paddy147 wrote: »

4 wheel drive was the only way to get around in 2010 (and even then you could get a tad stuck).

Nice photos ! But even a 4x4 is useless without winter tyres, which most people don't have in Ireland.

Loughc

Overflow wrote: »

Nice photos ! But even a 4x4 is useless without winter tyres, which most people don't have in Ireland.

Which most people don't need in Ireland. 2010 was a freak occurrence and it could be decades before we can anything of the likes again!

Rasmus

Have fun and thanks for posting back! What a story!! I don't know you but I'm so happy for your family!

Tipsy McSwagger

Am I the only one who is jealous that her dad bombed into the pool