Have you ever wondered how your favourite Irish celebrity spends the holidays? Do they enjoy a quiet day surrounded by their friends and family, or do they prefer to do something a little more extravagant? Will they be home or abroad, partying it up or having some well deserved R&R? We caught up with a couple of stars to find out..
Amy Huberman and Brian O’Driscoll
“We meet up with friends in town on Christmas Eve to soak up the atmosphere and then Christmas Day is all about spending time with family,” says Amy, adding that there will be a Christmas quiz with the in-laws and movies like Miracle on 34th Street and Love Actually on the tv.
Maia Dunphy
“My husband is coming over for Christmas which may sound obvious to most, but we’ve only spent one Christmas together in the nearly nine years we’ve been together! It’s baby Tom’s second Christmas so hopefully he’ll be more interested in the lights and excitement! I’m taking him to his first Santa experience at Dublin Zoo so that should be one for the album. I expect tears.”
Jennifer Zamparelli
“I’m taking snow boarding lessons and heading off on a trip with my husband Lau’s family just after Christmas so I’m very excited about that. I’ve took a few bad falls and my arse has had consistent bruise since I started learning, but I’m looking forward to the exercise after stuffing my face for the holidays!”
Danny O’Reilly
“The Coronas have a few gigs around Ireland this month, including three nights in The Olympia which we’re really excited about. So, we’re busy! We’re going to be trying out some new songs before we really get stuck into the new album. On Christmas day then we’ll be home, chilling out!”
Cassie Stokes
“It’s my first christmas living back in Ireland so I’m so happy to be here for all of December. My plans are to spend my whole christmas with my friends and family laughing a lot and Snapchatting (@cassiestokes3)! I’m so excited to get my Christmas pyjamas which match my sisters. I will never grow up! I also can’t wait for Christmas morning walks with my dog, Beau, in his santa suit!”
Aoibhinn McGinnity
“Im feeling very Christmassy already! I’ll be at home in Monaghan with friends and family, my fairy godmother is coming up and my four nieces and nephew. The house is always so full at Christmas and mum puts on such a good spread. I’m trying to find our dog a Christmas jumper this year, hopefully it’ll be a white Christmas and he’ll need it!”
Darren Kennedy
“This Christmas will be spent with all the family at home with my folks. We usually go out for dinner on Christmas Eve and afterwards I’ll go to my local pub to catch up with childhood friends, many of whom will have travelled home from abroad for the holidays. I’m hoping to squeeze in a mini-break, jump in the car and head to a spa break for a few days!”
Nicky Byrne
“Christmas is always at home for me and the family, I love Christmas It’s my time to kick back, get fat and then train like a maniac in January! Sure why wouldn’t you!”
Lucy Kennedy
“My husband Richard and I are having an extra special Christmas this year because on Christmas Eve, we’ll hopefully be bringing our new baby home from the Coombe to meet a very excited Jack (7) and Holly (4).
“My younger sister Gemma and her new husband Phillie are home from New York that day too so we’ll all have Christmas Day together, the 14 of us in my older sister Anna’s house. We’re a very close family so there’ll be lots of laughs and teasing each other! It’s my favourite meal of the year so we’ll eat all day and then like most families, we’ll get into our pyjamas and watch lots of telly while scoffing Roses! Myself, Richard, Jack, Holly and our new baby will head to Carlow then for a few days for a second Christmas with Richard’s lovely family.”
Adam Weafer
“Well we wrap on the 19th, I’ll be going to London for a weekend to see my beloved Arsenal play but definitely home for Christmas. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by friends and family and the absolute madness of Christmas. We traditionally go visit our nanny Weafer on Christmas Day to give my mam space to cook the dinner or else she’d murder us haha. Then Stephen’s day up to the races and the rest is a blur really…
Lisa Cannon
“It’s going to be a wonderful three days in Mount Juliet with my dad and Richard! We plan on getting down early on Christmas Eve to try and get the room unloaded with presents. I wouldn’t miss the carol singing and mince pies for the world and then it will be mass on Christmas morning! I plan to enjoy the special day, maybe go for a walk and relax watching movies in our room and ringing family to wish them a Happy Christmas! I always find it a reflective time of year and I’m hoping this year it will be wonderful. We are in Kilkenny on St Stephen’s Day too so we might get into the city and wander around.”
Storm and Ronan Keating
“We’ll be in Dublin with the kids over the festive season and celebrating a very low key Christmas with family and friends. It’s been such a busy year for us with work and travel, so we’re looking forward to a quiet New Years also and we hope to get away at some point for some R&R before everything kicks back into gear for 2017!”
Tommy Bowe
“Myself and Luce have moved into our new house in Belfast so we think we might stay there this year, and whether our families come over we’re not too sure. So we might have to be in charge of the turkey this year! That could be interesting! We’ll enjoy a few movies, a few Christmas jumpers and a bit of craic.”
