Festive Fair City
We asked some of the Fair City cast how they will be spending Christmas and what makes it special for them
Nyree Yergainharsian (Melanie Ryan)
How will your character spend Christmas? Melanie isn’t going to have the happy Christmas she would like. She will be bedding down in her car for the night. And you? My own Christmas is always with my family. My Mam cooks and I spend the a ernoon opening presents with my three gorgeous nephews.
Worst aspect of the season? I think there’s a lot of pressure around buying presents. I prefer to spend time with the people I love.
Memory of a favourite Santa toy? Mr Frosty was the most wanted gi ever got from Santa!
Ever tempted to go away somewhere and ignore it? A trip somewhere warm would be lovely, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to leave my family, so they would all have to come too!
Your plans for 2019? I have a trip to Cuba booked. As well as Fair City, I’ll be spending some time working on theatre projects in London later in the year.
Christmas favourites: Movie – Home Alone; TV advert – Mr Frosty; Song: –Driving Home for Christmas
Dave O’sullivan (Decco Bishop)
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How will your character spend Christmas? I think it’s going to be a low-key Christmas for Decco this year. He will do his very best to make it special for his daughter, Samantha. And you? I’ll be in my own home with my girlfriend. I love Christmas, it’s my favourite time of year.
Worst aspect of the season? When it’s all over. I enjoy the rushing around and all of the build-up, so when it’s over, you miss it.
Do the celebrations start too soon? I believe that Christmas starts when the individual feels it does – to each their own.
Ever tempted to go away somewhere and ignore it? No, I don’t think Christmas on a beach would appeal to me, I enjoy the cold weather and all that comes with Christmas.
Your plans for 2019? Doing up my new house, maybe taking up a hobby and possibly looking into a business venture.
Christmas favourites: Movie – Home Alone, Die Hard, Bad Santa, Love Actually; TV advert – John Lewis. Song – Fairytale of New York, All I Want For Christmas Is You, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.
Aisling O’neill (Carol Foley)
How will your character spend Christmas? Carol spends Christmas with the Collins family so Jack can be around Robbie. And you? I’ll be spending Christmas in Wexford with my friends and family. Since I had my son, it means so much more as I love seeing how excited he gets with his presents.
Best thing about the season? My favourite thing to do is relaxing by the re and watching movies. My most dreaded aspect is the rushing around shopping.
Do the celebrations start too soon? I think Christmas does go on a bit long if I’m to be honest! Ever tempted to go away somewhere and ignore it? I went away last year with my son to Fuerteventura and we had Chinese food on Christmas Day. It was di erent and fun!
Christmas favourites: Movie – It’s A Wonderful Life; Song – I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.
Carrie Crowley (Jackie Ferguson)
How will your character spend Christmas? Hopefully, myself and Hughie will get to hang out and relax. Presume Doug will be with us. And you? As for myself, it will probably be in Dublin, so we can have a Christmas Day swim and hook up with the great community of winter swimmers. e past few years have been spent in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim; the choir in the local church is amazing.
Best aspect of the season? I like the traditional side of it. e music, the smell of Christmas trees, the speci c foods, the gi ing to those we love. Stand-out Christmas? e rst one a er my father died was pretty di cult. So many moments that just make you burst into tears.
Do the celebrations start too soon? Yes! I wish it didn’t start quite so early and really wish it was a bit more simple.
Ever tempted to go away somewhere and ignore it? I have been away at Christmas – to New York and Istanbul. Ross (my husband) was working abroad so I went too. Istanbul wasn’t hugely Christmassy for obvious reasons! But New York is Christmas to the power of a thousand. Christmas favourites: TV advert – e Guinness ad; Song – e little Boy
at Santa Claus Forgot.
Paul Ronan (Anto Collins)
How will your character spend Christmas? Anto will be spending Christmas with his family and maybe a few surprising guests. Enjoying the rst Collins Christmas in Carrigstown.
Worst and best aspect of the season? I like Christmas, I always have. I’m not crazy about how Christmas is so commercial though. e Christmas message shouldn’t be about spending money but spending time with loved ones. And I hate when it ends. It’s like a Monday morning that lasts for a week.
Do the celebrations start too soon? Of course. I suppose business people have to capitalise on the season.
Memory of a favourite Santa toy? I had two favourite Santa pressies. One was a complete swimming set – the Speedos, goggles, training bag and pool shoes. e other was a full set of karate gear.
Ever tempted to ignore it all? I love Christmas and I have had some great times in Dublin, Carlow and the Big Apple. Maybe an ashram in India would be a choice, or a Christmas on one of our islands.
Your plans for 2019? I don’t plan anything any more. I’d rather take it as it comes, I do have a lm to edit though – it’s a short lm and my directorial debut.
Christmas favourites: Movie – It’s a Wonderful Life, e Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol; (the one with Alastair Sim); Song – White Christmas.
Martina Stanley (Dolores Molloy)
How will you spend Christmas? With my children and grandchildren at home.
Best aspect of the season? Having everyone home and hanging out together. I love Christmas cookery programmes: that’s the start of Christmas for me. It reminds me of my mother and the delicious, aromatic smells of Christmas as a child. Stand-out Christmas? When I was ve years old and very ill. I heard Santa come into my room. I was so tempted to have a peek. I shouldn’t have!!
Do the celebrations start too soon? I think the end of August is a tad early! Christmas favourites: Movie – e Wizard of Oz; Song – O Holy Night.
Rebecca Grimes (Hayley Collins)
How will your character spend Christmas? As it’s my family’s rst Christmas in Carrigstown, there’s going to be a big Collins’ shindig! Anto and Sharon are intent on making it a memorable one! And you? I’ll be home with my family in Dublin. I’m looking forward to lots of chill-out time.
Best aspect of the season? I love getting home on Christmas Eve and not leaving the house for a few days. Time seems to stand still between Christmas and New Year’s when nobody knows what day it is.
Stand-out Christmas? My friends and I get together each year and host a Mini Christmas. One year, a friend was moving away so we surprised her with Mini Christmas in August. We lit the re and all wore Christmas jumpers. She was so shocked she slapped me in the face! at’s the thanks I get!
Do the celebrations start too soon? Yes – the decorations were up in the shops before Hallowe’en this year.
Memory of a favourite Santa toy? I got a beautiful doll’s house one year that had my name painted on it. I only found out as an adult that my granddad had made it. Ever tempted to go away somewhere and ignore it? I think I’m too much of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas but if anyone wants to whisk me away to the Caribbean, I might be persuaded!
Christmas favourites: Movie – Love Actually; TV advert – Coca Cola, Denny’s; Song – Damien Dempsey’s O Holy Night.
Tony Tormey (Paul Brennan)
How will your character spend Christmas? Home with the family – starts o great, ends up not so good.
Best/worst aspect of the season? Watching kids open their presents. e worst aspect is worrying that the turkey won’t be pink. And I think the celebrations start too soon.
Fondest Christmas memory: Watching Laurel and Hardy late at night; it would always be shown on BBC Two around Christmas time. Christmas favourites: Movie – Polar Express; TV advert – e old Kelloggs ad; Song – I Believe in Father Christmas.
Neili Conroy (Sharon Collins)
How will your character spend Christmas? Sharon doesn’t like anyone being alone on the day so she’ll have all the family and some neighbours over for dinner.
Best aspect of the season? Going into town on Christmas Eve and wandering around and that feeling of anticipation. Stand-out Christmas? A few years ago, I had all my family coming for dinner. We woke up early and I was hit with the worst ’ u. I had to lie down for the day. Awful.
Do the celebrations start too soon? Yes, I think we should de nitely not mention Christmas ’til at least December.
Christmas favourites: Movie – It’s A Wonderful Life, Elf’ Song – O Holy Night, Fairytale of New York. War is Over, Baby Please Come Home.