Last Saturday morning, I found myself on the side of a mountain in the lashing rain covered in mud – a standard morning for most farmers you might say.

But I was wearing a Santa hat and my children were laughing hysterically as my husband attempted to help me up off the very slippy steep ground – such was my determination to find the perfect Christmas tree for 2025.

Growing up, we had an artificial tree at home but I love a real tree. You just can’t beat the beautiful smell and the imperfectness of it, there’s always a stray branch somewhere or it’s ever so slightly lopsided, but that’s part of its charm.

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There is also an argument that a real tree (that is recycled or composted correctly) and re-planted is more environmentally friendly – unless you plan on keeping your artifical tree for at least 10 years.

So, we set off on our adventure to Killakee Christmas Tree Farm in the Dublin mountains. The farm is run by Justin and Karen Morton and Saturday 6 December was one of their busiest days of the year. It was a real family effort with their parents and three children Ciara, Jamie and Max all helping everything to run smoothly.

We arrived early and the views were nothing short of stunning. Overlooking Dublin city and beyond, we could see right out as far as Howth and the Poolbeg Stacks and we followed a ferry making its journey out to the Irish Sea – that was of course before the rain set in and we could barely see the trees in front of us.

Then of course, the rain came, and it all got a bit much – the kids started to whinge, there was another muddy fall, and I started to curse myself that I didn’t pick a tree at the entrance. That’s when I heard a shout through the trees. “I found it,” my husband called

There were a plethora of perfectly good trees sitting under a canopy when we arrived to the farm, and we could have picked one in a matter of minutes, but where’s the fun in that? So, we set off on our search, making our way up mud paths and in through little forests.

Then of course, the rain came, and it all got a bit much – the kids started to whinge, there was another muddy fall, and I started to curse myself that I didn’t pick a tree at the entrance. That’s when I heard a shout through the trees. “I found it,” my husband called.

There it was, standing out on its own, a little over six foot, well-proportioned and beautifully filled out. The lads arrived with their chainsaw and quad, and then the most exciting part, our tree being cut down especially for us, as my five-year-old shouted out ‘timber’.

Hot chocolate warmed our hands and Christmas music played afterwards in the canopy as our tree was wrapped and put on the roof of our car. In life, moments can pass us by so fast but I looked at the excitement on my kids’ faces and realised this was one to savour.

Our tree cost us €60, which I think was reasonable enough, especially as we passed three different outlets on our journey there, advertising trees between €65 and €70.

So, the experience of visiting the farm and picking out the tree didn’t cost us anything extra but the memories are priceless and they last a lifetime.