Heather Humphreys,
Minister for
Rural Affairs
Visiting all corners of Ireland in her role as Minister for Rural Affairs Heather Humphreys is looking forward to watching Bridget Jones’s Diary along with a bowl of Christmas pudding and lots of custard and cream.
John Keane,
Macra president
Representing young people from rural Ireland, Macra president John Keane is a fan of the Father Ted Christmas Special: “It still makes us laugh after seeing it so many times.” Celebrations are the box of sweets to bring to his house in Errill, Co Laois … or does he claim allegiance to Tipperary?
Helen Carroll, TV presenter
Helen Carroll is looking forward to watching A Christmas Story with her family this year.
Ear to the Ground favourite, Helen Carroll’s movie to watch with the family is A Christmas Story - “a funny, sweet film from 1983 that’s rolled out once a year in our house. Although I’m slightly horrified that there’s a sequel out this year. I wish they’d leave the Christmas classics alone.”
Ronan tynan,
Tenor
Another Kilkenny Cat who prefers the classics is Ronan Tynan: “Has to be Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the original one with Gene Wilder, even though I like the more recent version but the original has David Kelly and I love David Kelly … or the Vienna Boys Choir usually have a select soloist each year – beautiful.”
Bernard Casey, comedian
Comedian Bernard Casey, Portmagee, Co Kerry
Comedian Bernard Casey from Portmagee on the Ring of Skellig in Kerry will be tuning into TG4 this Christmas: “They play the repeat of the All-Ireland final in the evening and we’ll be watching closely after Kerry’s big win this year.” We hear Bernard will be reaching for the Quality Street with a cup of tea but having plenty of the Kerry cuteness in him, he won’t reveal which one is his favourite. Answers on a postcard please …
Maria Walsh, MEP
Former Rose of Tralee and now representing the people of Ireland Northwest in Brussels, Maria Walsh’s favourite Christmas movie is the 2004 animated adventure film The Polar Express. “It’s all things magical and reminds me each year how powerful believing in one another is. It is special and unique. Remembering her Rose days: “I wouldn’t be an authentic Rose of Tralee if I didn’t say my favourite sweets at Christmas is a tin of Roses.” And would you believe Maria is proud to declare it is not the perennially popular Caramel Barrel or Hazelnut Swirl that takes her fancy but the Strawberry Dream.
Michael Healy-Rae, Kerry TD
Someone who doesn’t have time for eating sweets is Michael Healy-Rae. Busy representing the people of Kerry, he concedes that Mrs Brown’s Boys is “an absolute necessity”. If time allows, he’ll sit down for Father Ted’s Christmas Special and Fawlty Towers if it’s on. He admits Yes Minister is another favourite … we are beginning to wonder if the TD is a secret TV buff? He tells Irish County Living “I no longer drink, this will be my sixth Christmas with no alcohol.” Feeling all the better for it, no doubt he will be out appreciating the Kerry scenery while on a break from the Dáil.
Brendan McArdle, The Irish Field
Brendan McArdle commentating at the Puissance at Dublin's RDS
Brendan McArdle from The Irish Field tells us his plans for the festivities: “I really enjoying watching the racing on RTÉ and ITV over the Christmas period. I will be at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day with RTÉ Radio 1 for extensive coverage of the racing.
“I love watching the Home Alone films. My son Jack, who is nearly nine, loves watching them also. Mrs Browns Boys is also a favourite. The innuendo can be funny although it can be a bit repetitive. Top of the Pops was also another favourite … seeing who was going to be number one. Not sure if that programme is still running!
“There are also plenty of Christmas movies on the go at home – Bad Santa is funny and Miracle on 34th Street is just a classic.
Gerry Daly, The Irish Garden
Bad Santa will be on in the Daly household too. Getting spotted recently, Gerry Daly tells us: “Standing in the queue at the checkout, a little boy of about four years of age looked up at me, amazed, and said breathlessly “Santa!” before his dad called him away. Which movie? It doesn’t much matter because I will spend most of the time dozing in any case, but Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton is a bit of a laugh.”
Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing
Association
For Queen of the Plough Anna May McHugh, “Christmas is all about spending quality time with family after a busy year. I always like Christmas mass in Ballylinan – I really missed that during COVID-19 – followed by a carol service on TV or radio while the Christmas dinner is being prepared. Afterwards relaxing while enjoying an old movie like The Sound of Music or a western and later in the evening seeing out the day surrounded by all my family and especially my four grandchildren Séan, Tadgh, Derbhla and Saran.”
We hear Anna May does not have a very sweet tooth but would be partial to Cadbury’s chocolates or even more so, her own Christmas pud.
Nina Carberry,
TV star and former jockey
Queen of the dance floor Nina Carberry will be cosying up with her girls to watch Macaulay Culkin run rings around Harry and Marv in Home Alone and any of the Julia Donaldson animations. If time allows, she’ll be looking forward to catching Love Actually once the girls have gone to bed.
The Dealer,
Irish Farmers
Journal
Journal favourite The Dealer tells us that: “With the first of the sucklers due on St Stephen’s Day, I’ll be keeping one eye on the calving cameras and the other on the Bounty in the Celebrations Box. I was horrified to hear the humble Bounty is now a rare breed in England and will be making sure I get my fair share of them when the box is opened. I’ll likely fall asleep on the couch in the afternoon but I’ll rise again come evening to watch Babe with the grandkids. Never far from farming in our house.”
Jack Kennedy,
Irish Farmers
Journal
And finally, our own Jack Kennedy wishes that: “An All Creatures Great and Small repeat would be my choice, however, given the sway and control I have on the TV controls I’m more likely to be watching a Downton Abbey Christmas special or Peppa Pig. It’s the Bounty sweet in Celebrations for me.” Bounty appears to have quite the following across rural Ireland!
Read more
Live animal crib opens at St Stephen’s Green
"One time, I dropped my pliers and a brown snake was at my feet"
Heather Humphreys,
Minister for
Rural Affairs
Visiting all corners of Ireland in her role as Minister for Rural Affairs Heather Humphreys is looking forward to watching Bridget Jones’s Diary along with a bowl of Christmas pudding and lots of custard and cream.
John Keane,
Macra president
Representing young people from rural Ireland, Macra president John Keane is a fan of the Father Ted Christmas Special: “It still makes us laugh after seeing it so many times.” Celebrations are the box of sweets to bring to his house in Errill, Co Laois … or does he claim allegiance to Tipperary?
Helen Carroll, TV presenter
Helen Carroll is looking forward to watching A Christmas Story with her family this year.
Ear to the Ground favourite, Helen Carroll’s movie to watch with the family is A Christmas Story - “a funny, sweet film from 1983 that’s rolled out once a year in our house. Although I’m slightly horrified that there’s a sequel out this year. I wish they’d leave the Christmas classics alone.”
Ronan tynan,
Tenor
Another Kilkenny Cat who prefers the classics is Ronan Tynan: “Has to be Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the original one with Gene Wilder, even though I like the more recent version but the original has David Kelly and I love David Kelly … or the Vienna Boys Choir usually have a select soloist each year – beautiful.”
Bernard Casey, comedian
Comedian Bernard Casey, Portmagee, Co Kerry
Comedian Bernard Casey from Portmagee on the Ring of Skellig in Kerry will be tuning into TG4 this Christmas: “They play the repeat of the All-Ireland final in the evening and we’ll be watching closely after Kerry’s big win this year.” We hear Bernard will be reaching for the Quality Street with a cup of tea but having plenty of the Kerry cuteness in him, he won’t reveal which one is his favourite. Answers on a postcard please …
Maria Walsh, MEP
Former Rose of Tralee and now representing the people of Ireland Northwest in Brussels, Maria Walsh’s favourite Christmas movie is the 2004 animated adventure film The Polar Express. “It’s all things magical and reminds me each year how powerful believing in one another is. It is special and unique. Remembering her Rose days: “I wouldn’t be an authentic Rose of Tralee if I didn’t say my favourite sweets at Christmas is a tin of Roses.” And would you believe Maria is proud to declare it is not the perennially popular Caramel Barrel or Hazelnut Swirl that takes her fancy but the Strawberry Dream.
Michael Healy-Rae, Kerry TD
Someone who doesn’t have time for eating sweets is Michael Healy-Rae. Busy representing the people of Kerry, he concedes that Mrs Brown’s Boys is “an absolute necessity”. If time allows, he’ll sit down for Father Ted’s Christmas Special and Fawlty Towers if it’s on. He admits Yes Minister is another favourite … we are beginning to wonder if the TD is a secret TV buff? He tells Irish County Living “I no longer drink, this will be my sixth Christmas with no alcohol.” Feeling all the better for it, no doubt he will be out appreciating the Kerry scenery while on a break from the Dáil.
Brendan McArdle, The Irish Field
Brendan McArdle commentating at the Puissance at Dublin's RDS
Brendan McArdle from The Irish Field tells us his plans for the festivities: “I really enjoying watching the racing on RTÉ and ITV over the Christmas period. I will be at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day with RTÉ Radio 1 for extensive coverage of the racing.
“I love watching the Home Alone films. My son Jack, who is nearly nine, loves watching them also. Mrs Browns Boys is also a favourite. The innuendo can be funny although it can be a bit repetitive. Top of the Pops was also another favourite … seeing who was going to be number one. Not sure if that programme is still running!
“There are also plenty of Christmas movies on the go at home – Bad Santa is funny and Miracle on 34th Street is just a classic.
Gerry Daly, The Irish Garden
Bad Santa will be on in the Daly household too. Getting spotted recently, Gerry Daly tells us: “Standing in the queue at the checkout, a little boy of about four years of age looked up at me, amazed, and said breathlessly “Santa!” before his dad called him away. Which movie? It doesn’t much matter because I will spend most of the time dozing in any case, but Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton is a bit of a laugh.”
Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing
Association
For Queen of the Plough Anna May McHugh, “Christmas is all about spending quality time with family after a busy year. I always like Christmas mass in Ballylinan – I really missed that during COVID-19 – followed by a carol service on TV or radio while the Christmas dinner is being prepared. Afterwards relaxing while enjoying an old movie like The Sound of Music or a western and later in the evening seeing out the day surrounded by all my family and especially my four grandchildren Séan, Tadgh, Derbhla and Saran.”
We hear Anna May does not have a very sweet tooth but would be partial to Cadbury’s chocolates or even more so, her own Christmas pud.
Nina Carberry,
TV star and former jockey
Queen of the dance floor Nina Carberry will be cosying up with her girls to watch Macaulay Culkin run rings around Harry and Marv in Home Alone and any of the Julia Donaldson animations. If time allows, she’ll be looking forward to catching Love Actually once the girls have gone to bed.
The Dealer,
Irish Farmers
Journal
Journal favourite The Dealer tells us that: “With the first of the sucklers due on St Stephen’s Day, I’ll be keeping one eye on the calving cameras and the other on the Bounty in the Celebrations Box. I was horrified to hear the humble Bounty is now a rare breed in England and will be making sure I get my fair share of them when the box is opened. I’ll likely fall asleep on the couch in the afternoon but I’ll rise again come evening to watch Babe with the grandkids. Never far from farming in our house.”
Jack Kennedy,
Irish Farmers
Journal
And finally, our own Jack Kennedy wishes that: “An All Creatures Great and Small repeat would be my choice, however, given the sway and control I have on the TV controls I’m more likely to be watching a Downton Abbey Christmas special or Peppa Pig. It’s the Bounty sweet in Celebrations for me.” Bounty appears to have quite the following across rural Ireland!
Read more
Live animal crib opens at St Stephen’s Green
"One time, I dropped my pliers and a brown snake was at my feet"
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