Raspberry canes, a 'Charlie Haughey-style' sailing cap . . . a pair of Dr Dre headphones . . . RÓISÍN INGLEasks people what presents they got this Christmas, and which were their favourites
EDA SAGARRA, RATHGAR, DUBLIN “I GOT 10 RASPBERRY CANES, FROM MY BEST FRIEND”
I WAS GIVEN wonderful presents this year. I got 10 raspberry canes, from my best friend who I met 70 years ago when we were at school together. I’ll be digging out a whole load of compost so I can have raspberries in the summer.
I also got a book called 101 Ideas for Veg From Small Spaces, along with packets of peas and broad beans which I sowed yesterday afternoon.
Other gifts included a lovely half bottle of a particular sweet wine that I adore, and my daughter and son-in-law gave me a wonderful brooch from Barcelona.
One of the loveliest things I received was from a Traveller friend I met years ago when she came to the door. She gave me a necklace.
My book club gave me an elegantly festive pair of washing-up gloves which came in handy during the day.
It was a gorgeous Christmas. There was a lot of cooking, meeting the neighbours at Mass and reading old diaries which I like to do on special occasions. I came across a reference from my daughter when she was 13. At the time she thought disco dancing was “undermining of human dignity” but said she liked “well controlled punk rock”.
I think Christmas is a good time for happy nostalgia.
PETER O’KENNEDY (12), GREYSTONES, CO WICKLOW “I GOT A RETRO GAA DUBLIN JERSEY”
I WAS BORN AND live in North Carolina but my Mom and Dad are from Dublin. It’s fun coming to Ireland for Christmas to see all my relations. This year my favourite present was my Dr Dre headphones — the sound quality is really high. I play a lot of sport in America so I also liked my Nike Elite socks.
I got a retro GAA Dublin jersey from one of my aunts, and one of my uncles gave me a remote-control helicopter which is pretty cool. I was also given a few books including Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne.
What I miss about Christmas in North Carolina is the snow and what I like about Christmas here is seeing all my family.
KATIE FARRELL (16), CABRA, DUBLIN “I GOT THE ‘WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE’ BOOK. I LIKE BRIAN COX MORE THAN THE PHYSICS”
I USED TO HATE getting books when I was younger but now I love reading. This year I got Wonders Of The Universeby Prof Brian Cox. I kind of like him more than I like the physics, to be honest. I also got The Long Way Roundby Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor, who I also have a soft spot for. I find attractive individuals can make you interested in any subject.
One of my best presents was a cake tin because I love baking, and the one I had was very old. It’s my birthday in January so for a joint Christmas/birthday present my Dad has promised me a PlayStation 3.
It was a great Christmas. My favourite moment of the day was probably watching my Uncle Stephen wrestle with the goose.
FINN (3) AND SAM (11 mths) CARTON, RATHGAR, DUBLIN A SPIDERMAN BIKE AND A TOY PHONE
FINN’S THIRD BIRTHDAY was also on Christmas Day, which makes the celebrations even more special.
His big Santa present was a Spiderman bike, and for his birthday he got a few Dinky car toys, one of which was a combine harvester. Keeping with the farming theme, his brother Sam got a book called That's Not My Tractoralong with a toy mobile phone and keys set.
Their Dad Rory, a stockbroker, got The Big Shortby Michael Lewis, a book about the financial meltdown.
SEAN GORMAN, KILMACANOGUE, CO WICKLOW “A BOTTLE OF FLEURIE, A CHEESEBOARD AND A WINE-COLOURED SCARF”
A FEW YEARS AGO when Santa Claus had reached his natural end we decided on a Kris Kringle replacement in our house. Everyone has to supply a small list of desired gifts and the maximum spend is €100. I didn’t supply a list this year as I felt the gift should be a total surprise.
I secretly hoped that my Kris Kringle would bring me back to my Santa Claus days of yore with a few simple gifts all wrapped up in colourful paper.
I was pleased with my surprises. There was a bottle of Vin de Beaujolais Fleurie with two lead-crystal wine glasses, a luxury cheeseboard, a Charlie Haughey-style sailing cap and a wine-coloured scarf to go with the colour of my eyes after drinking the aforementioned wine.
