Christmas means we come together with our nearest and dearest. It can be the most joyous time of the year.
But for many, it can be difficult as they are missing one of their loved ones.
Brendan O’Carroll has opened up about why Christmas can be a “lonely time” for him.
Speaking about the Christmas special of Mrs Brown’s Boys, he explained: “I always try to reflect that in the message at the end of the show. This year, her message is, ‘Christmas is a wonderful time, but it can be a lonely time as well, so go into your contacts and pick somebody that you haven’t talked to in a long time. Pick up the phone and say Merry Christmas’.”
He explained that the festive period isn’t always easy for him as he misses his late son, who passed away in 1979 just a few days after his birth, and his mum Maureen.
“There is not a Christmas that goes by where we don’t raise a glass to those who aren’t here and it’s a horribly melancholy moment,” he told the RTÉ Guide.
He admitted that they are always on his mind but it is “particularly stark” during Christmas when they are not there with the family.
“I really understand that Christmas is a wonderful time, it really is, but for so many people they are not looking forward to it. It is very hard.”
Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special will air on RTÉ One on Christmas Day at 9:25pm
