A Letter from Ireland

a Chara,

This day, next week, it will be all over. The big man, Santa (not Gerry Adams), will have called, the dinner prepared and demolished. From here on in, it will be turkey sandwiches.

Christmas is a time of traditions, old and new. In rural Ireland, the day after Christmas, St. Stephen’s Day was a day to hunt the wren. Local boys and musicians would go from street to street in costume, singing and playing music in search of the magical wren.

In Britain, the same day is referred to as Boxing Day in celebration of the monarch giving presents to the poor. I’m sure you can guess that in our house, it was never referred to as Boxing Day.

For us, the 26th of December was the time when all our extended family would come together. As a child, it was when grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins would all gather in my parents’ house, and the craic was always mighty. Stories were told, the leftover turkey consumed, and a drink or two taken.

I remember one uncle organised a game of hide and seek for all of us kids—no small challenge for about fifteen of us in a small two-and-a-half-bedroom house. We ran upstairs, crawled under beds, jumped into wardrobes, feet sticking out from behind curtains, we giggled, and we waited. And we waited. And we waited. Until we realised he was not looking for us but looking to get rid of us and some peace!

That tradition continues, grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles long gone. It is now brothers, in-laws, nieces and nephews who have taken to referring to the day as  Quinnsmas. It is still a joyous occasion.

For too many years, Christmas was marked by negotiations in the peace process that would go right up to the wire and sometimes would be suspended on Christmas Eve and recommence on December 27th. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened in a couple of years. Other years, there would be a crisis that meant working over the holidays. One year, it was a record freeze that burst pipes and led to water outages across Ireland.

This year, touch wood, all looks quiet.

There is always a tinge of sadness at Christmas as we remember friends and family we have lost or, as is all too common in modern Ireland, those who have immigrated. For me, it’s a time to reflect and be thankful for all those who came before us, to appreciate those who are with us, and to look forward to the coming year.

I would like to thank all our friends across the US and Canada for your support, good humour, hospitality, and commitment to Irish Unity.

Enjoy the break, and if it all gets too much, you can always organise a game of hide and seek.

Nolliag Shona Daoibhsa,