'As a family, we usually stick on Muppets’ Christmas Carrol and The Grinch on Christmas Eve' - Kilkenny senator

Traditionally, I’ve gone up to Belfast to have Christmas at my mum’s house and we always had Christmas dinner with extended family.

However, last year I spent Christmas in Kilkenny, and we had family come to stay with us. It was our first Christmas in the house my partner and I renovated ourselves, so it was particularly special. We’ll be doing the same this year, with my family coming down to stay with us.

I’m really enjoying this new tradition of hosting my family in Kilkenny. A lot of people my age don’t own their own home so I know I’m very lucky to have a place to invite my family and be able to cook for them. I’ve got a lot of friends who wish they could do the same, but they’re locked out of home ownership.

I tend to put up the tree around the second week of December – I love decorating the Christmas tree and I love the pine scent of a natural tree in the house. I keep the tree up until January 6, Nollaig na mBan. My mum always keeps her decorations up until then too and growing up it was always a tradition to celebrate Women’s Christmas.

I also love the fairy lights in the house, it brightens up the dark evenings so I’m in no rush to take them down.
Christmas is a lovely time of year, but it’s important to acknowledge that for some people it can be challenging for a variety of reasons and that’s the case for me.
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When I was 19 my dad died a few days before Christmas, so it’s a bittersweet time for me – because of that I always take a bit of time for myself. I like to go for a wintery walk in the morning with the dogs before getting stuck into cooking.

I think the best part of Christmas dinner is the roast potatoes, veg and gravy. I love Brussel sprouts if they’re cooked well. I roast mine with garlic and parmesan and they’re delicious. I think they get a bad rep because boiled Brussel sprouts can be pretty bland.

I always help with Christmas dinner; more hands make light work – I have fond memories as a child sitting with my mum and aunts on Christmas eve prepping all the veg – peeling potatoes, parsnips and carrots and leaving them in large pots of water for the morning.

Usually, I’m responsible for the potatoes and veg and at least one of the desserts. Last year I made tiramisu, but this year I’m planning to make a chocolate log.

A few Christmases ago, one of my beloved rescue dogs was left alone in my mum’s kitchen and managed to eat a quarter of the roast potatoes before anyone noticed.
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My older brother helped me cover up the dog’s crime. Luckily, we always cook enough potatoes for leftovers, so the crisis was somewhat averted. I told my mum after the dinner was finished – she wasn’t very impressed!
That same Christmas, my dog also managed to eat an entire tray of freshly baked mince pies, which dog owners will know are not OK for dogs to eat – luckily, she was totally fine. She’s a bit of a menace when it comes to counter surfing for food – I put it down to her early days as a street dog!

As a family, we usually stick on Muppets’ Christmas Carrol and The Grinch on Christmas Eve. Another tradition I have is rewatching The Lord of the Rings on dark gloomy evenings during the run up to Christmas.

My best memories of my childhood Christmases are eating my body weight in chocolate and watching Father Ted reruns on the telly with my cousins after dinner. This is a tradition I have continued into adulthood – too much tv and chocolate is a Christmas must!