Lorna MacCallion

I don't think people are charitable at all anymore. The spirit of Christmas is dead and people are only concerned with what and how much they are getting. Things are organised through school for us so that we do stuff like carol singing at an old people's home or filling boxes to go to Romania. It makes you feel as if you're doing something - you don't feel as guilty about all the things you get yourself.

David Higgins

School is very good for making you think in a charitable way because it organises things like non-uniform days or collections for different organisations. When you're out of school though, you think more about what presents you're going to get. Christmas is definitely way too commercialised. I wouldn't really be influenced by advertising myself, but I know some parents find it really impossible to say no to their kids.

Sarah Walsh

Christmas has changed a lot since I was younger - it has become very commercialised and all about money. Having said that, I think the Christmas spirit is really alive and the whole atmosphere is really happy and exciting. People put a lot of thought into getting presents for their family and friends. I feel bad that my parents buy me so much - when you get older you understand more how much money is worth.

Stephen Booth

It's ridiculous! The Christmas decorations went up in Blanchardstown weeks ago. They put them up earlier to try and manipulate you into spending more money. There is a lot of competition about who will get Playstation 2 and who is getting the best games - so that side of things is not good. At Christmas time though, people do think more about other people, so that is one good side of the Christmas spirit.

Michelle Brady

No, not at all, there is lots of Christmas cheer. Just look around town and see all the windows dressed up, all the kids coming to look at them and all the traditional things like the nativity play in the local church. I love the whole thing, especially Christmas dinner. There's plenty of Concern and Trocaire appeals on TV so people are helping out at Christmas much more than they would normally - it really is a time for giving.