There were iPod Touches and personal touches, useless hankies and useful vouchers – and of course the packaging that kids found more enjoyable than the gift itself. Ten people describe the Christmas presents they received this year
Claire Byrne, presenter of The Daily Showon RTÉ, Co Laois
We did Kris Kindle at work, with a twist. Not only were we limited to 10 euro, but we had to make the present, which – not being a crafty kind of person – I found tough. I was really impressed with the standard of gifts: somebody went to the trouble of making me a necklace, with beads and ribbons, which if you saw it in the shop you would think cost a fortune.
I went home to my parents’ house in Laois for Christmas Eve; that’s when we traditionally give our presents because we are all like babies and we can’t wait.
In our family you pick a name out of a hat and you only buy for that person. My younger sister Eileen, who is a style queen, gave me a really stylish package of costume jewellery, a top and a belt which I was delighted with.
The one-person-present rule is sometimes broken and there’s a few small presents. So this year I also got a pair of the warmest slippers in the world and a really fluffy bathrobe, which have been useful because we’ve had no water and so no heating apart from the fire over Christmas, like a lot of people.
With the freezing weather, the potatoes which had been stored in a shed were frozen solid so we had turkey, all the trimmings and the interesting addition of oven chips.
Hallie (12) and Jade (9) Ridgeway, sisters, North Strand, Dublin
Hallie: My big present was the iPod Touch, I haven't left it out of my hands since I got it. It's amazing – the best thing ever. I've been downloading music with it because I also got an iTunes voucher, so now I have new songs by Willow Smith and the Black Eyed Peas. I'm going to download Eclipse, the Twilight movie later. I can't wait.
My other favourite present is a green Adidas jacket which I haven’t taken off me, I will probably sleep in it tonight. It’s been a brilliant Christmas. I’m very happy.
Jade: I got a PSP with a Hello Kitty videogame which is great. My other presents were Moonsand, some books and Live X Factor Tour tickets, which we all got, so we get to see Mary Byrne in concert. I also get this deadly Draw Fantasy Art Set which is great for drawing all these characters like vampires.
Santa also brought me a letter-writing set, I think because he saw that I was the only one who had left him a thank-you note before he’d even delivered the presents, and he wants me to write more letters to him so I probably will.
Maisy and Georgia Norton, 20-month-old twins, Drimnagh, Dublin
“There was a lot of shrieking and stamping of feet in this house on Christmas Day,” says their mother Lisa Kehoe. The girls might not fully understand the concept of Christmas yet, but they definitely knew there was something funny going on. Their present haul included a toy garage with a ramp and a petrol station, a doll’s house and a couple of very realistic junior designer handbags.
“They were delighted with all of it but they really seemed to love putting on the handbags and pretending to go out to the shops,” she says. Another big hit was the cat Coco which came with an inflatable sofa and fish for her dinner, which was a present from their uncle.
In time-honoured Christmas fashion, the packaging brought even more of a thrill than the presents. “They loved ripping off the wrapping paper and if they couldn’t do it they’d just stand there shouting Open! Open!,” she says. “My mother brought a huge Christmas paper carrier bag and they had great fun jumping in and out of that. It was some of the best fun they had all day”.
Charlotte Ryan (16), transition-year student, Cabra, Dublin
I got a great book from my two sisters called Between A Rock and A Hard Place, by Aron Ralston, which I love. It's an account of his real-life adventure story where he went hiking and got stuck up a canyon in Utah for five days. He had to cut his own hand off in the end.
There’s a film with James Franco coming out based on the story, and my sisters know I really like that actor so that’s why they bought me the book. I also got a great videogame: Batman Arkhan Asylum.
Santa still comes to me, and he brought me an Issey Miyake perfume and a Toni and Guy hair set with a brush and shampoo and conditioner.
Watching movies was my favourite part of the day, we watched It's a Wonderful Lifeand Some Like It Hoton telly and Coco Before Chanelon DVD. It was a great Christmas. I am really happy with all my presents.
Michael Holmes, locksmith and single father of four, Cashel, Co Tipperary
I enjoy Christmas in spite of myself. I generally find it a bit stressful because one has to be mannerly and manageable and sociable. This year, I got two boxes of biscuits which will be fed to the birds and a handkerchief with a map of the world on it, which is of absolutely no use to me, like most Christmas presents.
And I got a badger-hair shaving brush or what they used to call in the army a “wobbler brush”. Although the family didn’t trust me with the cut throat razor so I don’t know if I will ever use it for shaving. It will probably be good for brushing dust off delicate mechanisms.
One of my presents was a book called What Are You Optimistic About?by John Brockman. I think they gave it to me because I am a pessimist; the glass is always half empty, and if something can go wrong it will go wrong.
I did enjoy sitting down and having dinner cooked and put in front of me, and I enjoyed the few libations.
The libations, rather than Christmas, is what the winter solstice is all about. The Christians stole it from us.
Abie Philbin Bowman, comedian, Dublin
Nothing says Christmas quite like opening a present from a loved one, and realising they have no idea who you really are. It wasn’t always like this. As a child, Christmas was a magical time, when all your earthly happiness was wrapped up in a new bike or videogame.
Personally, I chased that dragon up until my early 20s. But a few years ago, I admitted defeat. I now find that the best way to survive Christmas is to start with abysmally low expectations, and then be pleasantly surprised.
I love waking up on Christmas morning to discover that it’s noon and the bloody thing’s already half over.
I no longer dream of one, spectacularly shiny new gift that will make my life complete. Instead, I try to enjoy the small, unexpected presents that the world sneaks my way when Santa Claus isn’t looking.
This year, favourite gifts have included rediscovering Six Feet Under; acquiring my 1,000th Twitter follower; and completing Lisa Hannigan and David O'Doherty's pun-based crossword. But the high point of my Christmas came during an eight-hour wait in Holyhead for the ferry home. After some food and tea in the nearest pub, I persuaded the barman to let me plug in my iPod. Nothing says Christmas like 40 Irish ex-pats bopping along to Horse Outside.
Abie Philbin Bowman is touring Ireland, starting in the Mill Theatre, Dundrum on January 8th. abielaughs.com
Dick Brennan (69), ‘silver surfer’ and IT volunteer of the year, Dublin
The presents I got were all vouchers but that suits me fine. It means I can go and browse and do things that I like to do. There was a menswear voucher, so I’ll get some new clothes. Then there was a voucher for a trip to Lough Rynn Castle in Co Leitrim. My children knew myself and my wife had to cancel a trip there earlier this year so they got us one which was thoughtful of them.
I got tickets to see Colm Wilkinson in The Grand Canal Theatre. I am really looking forward to that. He has a wonderful voice. I also got a book voucher, so I’ll enjoy picking out some books from Eason’s with that.
I did go online checking my email on Christmas Day, but there were only a few spam emails, which I dumped.
We had a lovely Christmas. Our three children and our grandchildren were here and I enjoyed sitting down after dinner and watching them open all the presents.
Maeve Higgins, comedian, Co Cork
It was a pretty good haul I have to say. My brother was my Kris Kringle but, inconveniently, he just moved to Mongolia. He put money into my account for a hair-do. I got a cut and colour and an uncomfortable feeling that the whole affair is a bit moll and gangster, like ‘keep yourself nice toots, or you’re outta here’. I wanted my hair the same colour as an Irish Setter, and I’m pretty happy that it worked out. I got Stila lipgloss off my sister Daisy and it’s like Christmas on a face, so lovely!
Last summer I was home in Cobh for a weekend and was admiring this old photo in Vintage Views, a shop in town. It’s from the 1930s and is a really cute, chubby toddler with the colours painted on, I loved the little one and the oval frame but was broke at the time so didn’t get it. As a surprise my Mam got it for me; she’s the best.
I made myself the scarf thing, it turned out a bit unwieldy but is definitely something to show off about. Can I knit it? Yes I can!
I got tickets to Colm Wilkinson in The Grand Canal Theatre. I am really looking forward to that
