Off the Record! Familiar Limerick faces reminisce on Christmases past, present and yet to come

FROM Christmas day memories to unexpected items they found in their stockings, a host of familiar faces get a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past.

For the Limerick Live, they share why they cherish the holidays – or in some cases, why they don’t.

For University of Limerick’s lecturer and author, Donal Ryan, Christmas is a time to look back on past memories. As he recalls magical times, he reflects: “I cherish all of my memories of my childhood Christmases, when the magic of it was pure and real, before the world’s ugly truths came charging in.”

In his hometown, Donal finds beauty in simplicity. “There’s a row of small windows high above the altar in St Mary of the Rosary in Nenagh with stars overlaid on a blue background that always remind me of the beautiful innocence of childhood Christmases. Christmas should be stressless and simple, a celebration of childhood, a midwinter reminder of our potential for understanding and cooperation, a time of quietness and peace,” he said.

Co-founder of Joy Division, Peter Hook’s childhood Christmases were a bit more eventful. As he sadly describes how his dad, was “kicking off and ruining it for everyone,” Hooky adds that it all changed once his children were born. “I would spoil them rotten, which I still do,” he winks.

“It comes from getting a piece of coal for Christmas in Salford in my youth. It wasn’t that bad really… I once got a tangerine, a stick, and a hoop.”

Speaking of Peter Hook, Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets’ lead singer, admires how Hooky’s melodies were “revolutionary” in the eighties. At this time of the year, Dylan tends to return to darker and more experimental albums.

On a Christmassy note, there is one festive memory that is stuck in his head: “I’d be heading over to my grandparents' house on Christmas Eve for a spicy curry before heading out to meet my mates in the pub. It’s the perfect combination of seeing family and friends when they are all home,” said Dylan.

For author and Croom native, Martha Begley-Schade, Christmas has arrived when she goes to Midnight Mass. “It’s something that I do every year, and it puts me in a space where I remember other Masses throughout my life, back to my childhood,” she said. After the Mass, Martha goes back home with her family to enjoy tea and freshly made mince pies, just before sharing presents.

In Limerick chef Eoin Sheehan's house, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas once the family home in Pallaskenry becomes busy again. “I have three older brothers, one lives in Limerick, one lives in Canada, and one lives in London. Usually, Christmas means that everyone is home.”

With his brothers, he goes to the pub, drives motorbikes around the farm, and is, often, up to no good.

“We’re up to mischief, it’s like we all become kids again. Running around and fighting each other, wrecking my mother’s head,” he chuckles.

When he wished upon a star, Young Munster rugby winger, Conor Phillips, once received the perfect Christmas gift. “My favourite Christmas memory would probably be when my mum got me my first pair of rugby boots when I was like seven,” he told Limerick Live.

“They were navy David Beckham’s boots, and they had my name on them. I was chuffed with that,” he cheerfully added. When it’s time to rock around the Christmas tree, Conor can be found listening to This Christmas by Picture This.

Limerick writer and Munster Rugby aficionado, Helena Close, admits she’s not a huge fan of Christmas.

“Is it awful to say?” she wonders. “I think the past two Christmases have been very strange because of Covid. The Christmas before last, my son was unable to travel home from London, so it was the first time that we weren’t all together on Christmas day.”

Although, the next year, Helen’s son brought his partner home. And in the end, she had a lovely Christmas. “She’s French-Moroccan, so she had never experienced an Irish Christmas. She was getting all excited about the food, the preparation, that was a lovely Christmas. We sometimes take things for granted.”

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According to UL lecturer and author, Joseph O’Connor, there are a few Christmas memories he’d rather forget. “My therapist has been working on helping me to forget,” he laughs.

“But they’ve all been happy since. I have lots of lovely memories with my children.”

In Joseph’s heart, New York holds a special place. Recalling a winter holiday in Greenwich Village, he said: “We had a nice Christmas in New York once, which is great because New York, being a genuinely multicultural city, doesn’t really close down on Christmas Day. The thing is, you can go to the theatre on Christmas night in New York, you can go to restaurants because many people don’t celebrate Christmas.”

When it comes to traditions, Joseph can’t think of any. "My life is so dull, I need to develop new traditions, I mean eating and drinking too much – those things are weekly traditions. Although, he can’t help but mention going to Dublin’s St Patrick’s Cathedral with his family."

“That’s probably the Christmas tradition I’d want mentioned in the Limerick Leader, as opposed to my drunkenness.”
When asked, ‘how about mentioning both’, Joseph said: “You must, Manon. The press must be free.”