Westport was a different place at Christmas. The big thing was that lots of friends and family came home from England, America and even Australia. People made a huge effort to get home no matter where they were.

For two weeks around Christmas and New Years, the town literally came alive. Westport was a hub of life and activity.

The cards would be out on Christmas Day in my house growing up, 25 was always the game. As I got older and we had our own children, Christmas revolved around the school plays and Santa.

Westport was always beautifully lit up at Christmas. There was a real buzz in the markets and the pubs and dance halls were full. This was well before tourism took off in Westport so it was by far the liveliest time of the year.

But it was really a time for families. People looked forward to seeing their loved ones all year. And then in January they’d be gone again till the following Christmas so people had to re-adjust after Christmas and get back to normal life.

I’m really looking forward to Christmas this year. It will be the only chance I have this year to spend a good amount of time with my family. During the year I’m usually away from home during the week and I’m busy when I’m in the constituency so Christmas is one of the few periods when I get to spend quality time with the family.

I’m looking forward to reading a book called “When Galway beat Mayo” by James Laffey.

CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY

Christmas Eve has always been a special day for me. It’s my birthday.

Though as anyone who is born in and around Christmas knows there is always the risk that the two celebrations will be lumped in together!

I have to say though, my family including my children and grandchildren make a special effort on Christmas Eve, so I get very well looked after!

I urge people to keep an eye on their elderly neighbours at this time of year. Christmas can be a challenging time for older people and small gestures can make a big difference for someone who is living alone.

Reaching out to an older person in your community can help brighten up their Christmas, whether it’s popping in for a chat, or lighting the fire or bringing someone some food.

SENIORS ALERT SCHEME

One way you can really help an elderly relative or neighbour this Christmas is to sign them up for the Seniors Alert Scheme, which is a free personalised alarm service for people over 65 and which is funded by my department.

If people hurt themselves at home or feel in any way under threat, they can activate a personal alarm device which they wear on their wrist or around their neck.

When the user activates the personalised alarm it puts a call through to the national call centre which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The call centre operator talks to the person in their home and decides whether to alert a locally-based volunteer responder or, in potentially serious circumstances, the emergency services.

The best present you could get an older relative or neighbour this Christmas is to sign up them up for a free personalised alarm. All you have to do is make contact with your local Seniors Alert group.

There are groups in each of the 26 counties around the country and you can find out about your local group by logging on to pobal.ie or phoning 01 5117222.

You could not put a value on the peace of mind and security that this gives someone you care for.

HIGHS AND LOWS

Being appointed to the cabinet by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar in June was a great honour.

I have had a long career in politics and it is a great privilege to be appointed to the cabinet. I’m lucky to have been given a portfolio in an area which I understand and feel I can make a difference in.

The Department of Rural and Community Development is a new department so we had a real challenge to get it up and running in a short time and to get the schemes out that make such a big difference in towns, villages and rural communities around Ireland.

I’m also working with other ministers to help ensure that through their departments they are focused on bringing jobs and infrastructure to rural Ireland.

My greatest disappointment was Mayo not winning the All-Ireland after coming so close. And for the ladies team to be beaten in the final so soon after the men’s team was a blow to everyone.

I’m a big soccer fan and it was great to see my hometown soccer club Westport United, who I used to play for, winning the county league again. This is now the fifth year in a row they have won so we’re very proud of them.

Minister Ring was in conversation with Susan Finnerty