What do Leitrim expats really miss at Christmas?

With an estimated one million Irish-born people living abroad and many not returning home again this Christmas, research has revealed what quintessentially Irish Christmas traditions expats miss most.

The research was carried out by thepaddybox.com which ships Irish favourite products to more than 30,000 Irish people living abroad every year.

When asked what Irish Christmas traditions people miss when away from home, the local pub comes out on top.

A whopping 63% of respondents said festive drinks in their local and the chance to reconnect with friends.

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was the next most popular answer followed by Horse Racing on St Stephen’s Day, The Panto and a Christmas Day Swim.

While the local pub reigns supreme, what do Irish emigrants miss the morning after festive drinks? The top hangover cure is unsurprisingly the hot chicken fillet roll with 29% of people surveyed saying they missed this iconic Irish snack.

A close second on the list of festive favourite cures for the morning after was the famous breakfast roll (23%).

Tayto crisps also proved a popular hangover cure with 18% craving the famous Irish crisps brand.

Staying on the subject of food, Irish people abroad said they missed a Christmas morning fry-up with 38% saying they crave a ‘full Irish’ with real Irish sausages.

A tin of Cadbury Roses on Christmas Day came second, with 15% saying they missed the mix of the classic tin of choccies.

When it comes to our characteristics as a nation the overwhelming feature Irish people living abroad miss is our ‘sense of humour’ with a huge 67% saying they missed our unapologetic banter that can’t be replicated abroad.

The Irish have forever been known for our warmth and hospitality so it’s no surprise that 21% of Irish people abroad surveyed said they miss the Irish ‘friendliness’.

Other notable traits were our obsession with talking about the weather and the ‘Irish Goodbye’!‘