Kildare broadcaster Enda Grace talks about his Christmas memories and plans for this year
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
During his career, TV producer Enda Grace has worked with former president Mary McAleese, TV personality Mary Kennedy, and the late sports commentator Jimmy Magee. Enda talks to Senan Hogan about his plans for Christmas and his memories of past holiday seasons.
As the owner of Kildarebased Dundara TV and Media, Enda Grace has had a busy year. Season three of his Moving West programme about people relocating to western counties is returning to TG4 and he also launched a brand new series of the podcast, Changing Times - The Allenwood Conversations, featuring former president Mary McAleese.
Changing Times, which is recorded in the heart of Co Kildare, also made a special live appearance at this year’s Electric Picnic.
Dundara Television & Media, established in 2008 in Allenwood, is known for its commitment to high-quality innovative storytelling, with notable productions such as the Game of Thrones Series 8 premiere for NBC.
But away from the cameras and microphones, boss Enda is a big family man and is looking
forward to Christmas with wife Fiona and nine year old twin girls, Emma and Lauryn.
“Christmas is just a joyful and exciting time,” he says. “We all love it and deck the house inside and out with lights and decorations. I especially love the week running up to Christmas Day and the atmosphere and buzz around the shops. On
Christmas Day itself we are all up early and so excited to see what Santa has brought.
“My dad ‘Kildare Grandad’ Paddy lives next door so we all head across to him to exchange presents. Then it’s off to mass in our local chapel in Allenwood. It’s a tradition that some of our neighbours and friends come to visit then. We have our dinner at about 3 o’clock and my dad joins us. That evening, it’s Christmas telly and a movie and lots of chocolates and sweets and a
glass of wine around an open turf fire.
“Fiona is from Fanad in Donegal so we head up there for a few days and the twins exchange presents with their cousins and Donegal Granny and Grandad. It’s like they have two Christmases!”
Enda also has very special Christmas memories as a child.
“I had so many wonderful Christmases as a child and it’s impossible to pick one,” he says. “My dear mam passed away in January 2020 and she just loved Christmas. Her and dad made it magical every single year.
“I can still hear her: ‘It’s Christmas Eve and I still have so much to do!’ I loved Christmas Eve. It was and still is the most magical day of the year. The excitement. The anticipation. When I was five I got a Duplo Lego set from Santa and that’s my earliest Christmas memory. I remember the set in the big yellow box and I remember mam and dad’s faces vividly. They were beaming. Everything was perfect,” he says.
“The best Christmas present I got was a Commodore 64 from Santa one year! That was amazing. But honestly, the best present is the joy of seeing Emma and Lauryn’s faces every Christmas. We were 10 years married before they were born and it is just wonderful to share their excitement.”
When it comes to food, the Grace family loves the traditional Christmas dinner of turkey and ham with all the vegetables.
Enda says, “We’re not that big into starters but some years we have carrot soup with toasted almonds on top. It’s generally chocolate cake for dessert. My mam made a most amazing sherry trifle every year. She was a pioneer! She never drank but she could make an incredible sherry trifle. I’ve often been tempted to make one since she passed away, but I never do because I don’t think I could do it justice. Fiona is the cook in our house and a really good one. I enjoy cooking and I do help but generally I’m the one to set the table and tidy up afterwards.”
The Grace family also has a unique routine at Christmas time.
“We book front row tickets a year in advance for the Gaiety Panto!” Enda says. “It’s always a brilliant night out. On St. Stephen’s Day we always go to our friends house for dinner. Also our Christmas trip to Donegal has become a
tradition now for Emma and Lauryn!”
On a personal level, Enda says new developments in recent years means that Christmas now holds a new family significance.
He explains, “I was adopted as a baby to two fantastic parents here in Allenwood. Three years ago I found my birth family and I have three brothers and a sister who live in the UK and are now a part of our Christmas. The twins gained eight new cousins overnight!”
Finally, for Enda, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas is his favourite festive song. He says, “The simplicity and Crosby’s warm, rich voice are what makes the song timeless, I think. It taps into feelings of nostalgia, warmth and remembrance.”