Hello and welcome
to this week’s Ireland’s Own Christmas Holiday Double Issue
Once again we have reached that point in the road where Christmas Day is very visible in the distance; a week from tomorrow homes around Ireland, and much further afield, will be waking up to another December 25th, and all that the day brings.
We have had another very enjoyable year here in the Ireland’s Own office, and the weeks and months have quite simply flown by. Each issue is a pleasure to put together and that is down to all the wonderful contributors who write the articles that make Ireland’s Own what it is – a weekly publication full of great stories … well told! And this week’s Christmas Holiday Double Issue is no different.
He may not go by the same name, or even look anything like Santa as we know him, but in his many different guises he’s still the children’s Christmas favourite in many parts of the world, writes Tom McParland in our cover story. In ‘The Kidnapped Santa’ Miss Flanagan is on the trail of another criminal at large in the not so very sleepy town of Benford.
In ‘The Irish Priests’ Maolsheachlann O Ceallaigh recalls Father Ned Dowling whose diary recorded Christmas Day of 1914 at the Western Front. Mary A. Moloney goes behind scenes of festive film ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ while Thomas Myler writes about the making of the Tim Allen seasonal favourite ‘The Santa Claus’. In her myths and legends series, Gemma Grant brings us part three of her four-part story ‘The Strange Death of King Muirchertach Mac Ercae’.
Johnny McEvoy tells us about his new album ‘Both Sides’ while we also have the opportunity for you to win tickets to go see The Fureys in concert. Paddy Ryan looks at what was on the Christmas table in the eighteenth century, while Harry Warren recalls a very personal Christmas tradition of faith and family in ‘A Candle in the Window’.
Patrick O’Sullivan continues his festive serial ‘The Little Maid’ and in his series ‘The Role of the Irish in WWII’ Con McGrath writes about Killarney woman Janie McCarthy – a resistance heroine who passed away at Christmas 60 years ago. Francis K. Beirne has an interesting story entitled ‘The Night We Were Beaten by U2’ and Francis also has a Showbands Christmas Quiz for you to enjoy!
Claire Keogh looks at ‘Christmastime in Space’ while Eugene Daly continues his series on various aspects of Irish folklore and customs. David Flynn looks at some classic US TV shows and their festive offerings.
We have all this for you to enjoy alongside regular favourites Cassidy Says, Dan Conway’s Corner, Marjorie’s Kitchen, Stranger Than Fiction, Catch the Criminal, jokes, songs, puzzles and much much more, I hope that you have enjoyed this year’s reading in Ireland’s Own and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. From Monthly Specials Editor, Shea Tomkins, and myself, we would like to wish you and yours a pleasant and peaceful Christmas and the best of health and happiness in 2025.
Season’s Greetings, Seán Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own
