‘These are a few of my favourite things’: Notable Limerick figures delve into the festive season

Sinead O'Brien aka Sinead's Curvy Style
Influencer/designer
THE first thing that always comes to mind is the time spent with family on Christmas Day. We usually gather at my mam’s house, but this year we’re heading to my sister Mary’s, which means I’m off the hook and don’t have to cook.

My beautiful son Jacob, along with all my gorgeous nieces, are at the heart of it. Watching my child open his presents and seeing the pure joy on his face means absolutely everything to me. When you finally sit down, take a breath, and look around, you really do see the true magic - and it’s written all over the kids’ faces.

We’ve also started a lovely new tradition of going into the city for Christmas lunch on Christmas Eve. We all meet up, and this year we’re heading to Da Vincenzo’s in Limerick, which I’m really looking forward to.

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Christine Hogan
Love Is Blind: UK star
My Christmas usually starts and finishes in Dingle. It begins with Other Voices and ends with Paidi O’Se’s New Year’s Day, which is probably my favourite tradition of all. I love the time off work and meeting friends; it’s the one time of year when everyone makes a real effort to get together.

I always try to get to a gig over Christmas, usually in Dolans or the Milk Market. Christmas Day itself is relaxed, spent with my parents, watching the turkey cook, wondering if it’s done yet and declaring every year that it’s the best dinner yet! I feel very blessed.

Liam Dwan
General manager of Brown Thomas
One of my favourite things about Christmas is being in retail and soaking up the buzz in the store. There’s nothing else like it at any other time of year. I really enjoy the downtime on Christmas Eve evening, relaxing with my family and a few nice beverages with some food.

Christmas Day starts early with a good breakfast, a walk, Mass, and then dinner in the afternoon. I usually crash out around 4pm for an hour or two, before getting a second wind around 6pm when more family arrive. Then it’s an early start again on Stephen’s morning, getting ready for yet another busy day ahead in retail.

Fiona Doyle
Personal stylist
Christmas is my favourite time of year because it’s the one time when all my family are together, making it really special. I love attending carol services in the lead-up to Christmas, and a real highlight this year was my son’s school choir and music group singing in the shopping centre.

Christmas Eve is spent last minute shopping then home with family and neighbours calling in, which I always enjoy. On Christmas morning we wake up in our own home before heading to Mass and then my parents’ house, where we all gather. We also make a trip to Kenmare to visit my in-laws.

Chloe Koyce
Influencer and podcaster
My favourite thing about Christmas is getting all the family together. On Christmas Eve we all come together for secret Santa. We have dinner together and go to Christmas Eve Mass. On Christmas morning myself and my siblings go to my parents room to open our stockings together and then down to the presents under the tree.

We also have our nephew with us too so the magic will always be there. We are joined by our grandparents for dinner and we watch Christmas movies for the evening! All preparing for my birthday on the 26th… it’s a jam packed few days full of fun.

Andrew Moloney
Traitors Ireland star
Board games, party games and card games! I’m a fan of settling down to play some forty-five, or board games like Catan, Scrabble and Articulate.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve a greater appreciation for going to Mass on Christmas Day, meeting people and catching up which definitely isn’t something younger me would have said!

I’m a fiend for mince pies and an Irish coffee. So, I eagerly wait for this time of year to engorge myself on mince pies. Lastly, it’s been a while since I’ve had Santa visit, but now that we have baby Oisín in the house, I’m excited for Santa visiting us at Christmas!