WHAT’S ON YOUR RADAR - CHRISTMAS EDITION

SARAH BREEN, CO-AUTHOR OF THE AISLING NOVELS

CHRISTMAS PLANS: “I have three small kids (aged 8, 4 and 2) so Christmas tends to be lively! After staying at home just the five of us last year, I’m excited to have my parents coming up to Dublin from Carlow for a Christmas morning feast. In the afternoon after they leave, we’ll pack up the kids, pyjamas and half of Santa’s workshop and head over to my in laws’ on the southside. My brother in law, Luke Matthews, runs the kitchen at Airfield so with him involved, Christmas dinner tends to be an elaborate spread. I’m already looking forward to it.”

BEST & WORST GIFT: “My husband’s cousin Sandra Hartwieg is a jeweller based in Kilkenny. He bought me a pair of her handmade Metal & Lace Gold Hoop earrings last year and I adore them. They go with everything. As for the worst gift, nobody has ever successfully bought me an item of clothing I’ve liked, but it’s not for the want of trying. I think a gift card is a much better alternative ”

FAVOURITE TRADITIONS: “On Christmas Eve, we all change into our new pyjamas early in the evening. Then we stick on a festive movie, hunker down in front of the fire and order a takeaway before reading The Night Before Christmas from a beautiful pop-up book I found in a thrift shop in Phoenix. It’s the calm before the storm.”

FAVOURITE FOOD: “Mince pies. I normally start chucking a box into the trolley every week from about the start of November but last year I was so bored in lockdown I made my own from scratch. Labour intensive but worth it, and the house smelled delicious for days.”

ON HER WISHLIST: “I could provide a wonderful, loving home for a Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis and a bottle of Tom Ford White Suede is just the perfect size for my Christmas stocking. Alternatively, 24 hours by myself in a hotel is my forever want.”

HOPES FOR 2022: “Releasing the final book in the Aisling series. It has been a life-changing project for myself and my friend Emer McLysaght, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it all pans out. We haven’t even started it yet so it’s all to play for.”

NIALL CASEY, MAKEUP ARTIST AND GLOW UP SEASON 1 FINALIST

CHRISTMAS PLANS: “I will be spending Christmas at home in Cahersiveen with my family. There really is something magical about being home for Christmas. I love seeing my parents and brother and enjoying time together. Christmas walks on the beaches and the countryside of South Kerry are always a treat. The sea breeze is always so refreshing. Taking a break to just experience nature has always been great for my creativity.”

BEST GIFT: “The best gift I’ve received would have to be my first ring light. As a makeup artist starting out, it’s hard to create quality content without the proper lighting. As a shy, young gay guy I can remember feeling like a superstar when I first switched it on. It’s hard to believe something so simple as a ring light could give someone so much confidence. I finally felt the courage to put myself out there and embrace my true self. I am forever grateful to my mom for gifting me that light.”

FAVOURITE TRADITIONS: “Every year we go to my nan’s house in the countryside. We all have Christmas dinner there as a family. After that, we all head up to my uncle’s house nearby for more celebrations. I get to meet all my little cousins and see what they got from Santa, they’re the cutest.”

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY FILM: “My favourite Christmas film would have to be The Nightmare Before Christmas. I love how Tim Burton mixes both Christmas and spooky season. I am a Hallowe’en lover so the combination of both holidays is perfection. The animation is beautiful and inspiring. It’s the perfect movie to unwind with after a long creative makeup look.”

ON HIS WISHLIST: “I could start listing material things here but really, I don’t think that’s what I want this year. It’s easy to get caught up in that side of things. This year I’m going to wish for growth and self-love. I’m always trying to be a better person. I want to achieve my goals and be the best version of myself. I think it’s important I prove to my younger self that I can do it.”

HOPES FOR 2022: “I’m really looking forward to just seeing where life takes me. Glow Up Ireland was truly an amazing experience for me and has to be one of the major highlights of 2021. Never would I have thought I would’ve been on the TV at 19 years of age doing what I love. I hope that 2022 also brings surprises and opportunities my way. Until then I’ll continue to be grateful for everything. As long as I have my makeup brushes and a palette of some sort, I’ll be just fine.”

JESS MURPHY, CHEF AND FOUNDER OF KAI, GALWAY

CHRISTMAS PLANS: “I’ll be spending Christmas this year in Galway. It’s just going to be myself and my husband, Dave. I don’t think we’ll have any strays this year! Last year, because of Covid-19 and the regulations, a lot of our friends and staff couldn’t go home for Christmas so we took them in instead. But thankfully this year, everyone will be able to visit their loved ones, but it means it’ll just be the two of us this time.”

BEST & WORST GIFT: “The best gift I ever received was a care parcel from my mum. It was a big giant care parcel sent all the way from New Zealand...which coincidentally leads me to the worst Christmas gift I ever received. This also came from my mum! It was a giant cash and carry bulk-buy Pantene shampoo and conditioner that she individually wrapped up to make it look like I had more presents than I did.”

FAVOURITE TRADITIONS: “I always go down to Blackrock for the COPE Christmas swim in Galway. I also get an obscene amount of McCambridge’s sliced ham and then drink two bottles of Champagne watching Home Alone.”

FAVOURITE FOOD: “Definitely has to be McCambridge’s ham, Ballymakenny spuds, a big huge free-range turkey from the Friendly Farmer. So yeah, I guess then my favourite Christmas food would be just simple turkey and ham.”

ON HER WISHLIST: “It has to be anything from the YSL boutique that Eleanor from Brown Thomas Galway recommends because she’s my number 1 fave. Then it would also have to be my other number 1 Galway fave...a box of chocolates from Grá Chocolates.”

HOPES FOR 2022: “What I’m most looking forward to in 2022 is the unrealistic expectations I’m going to push on myself, and also seeing my family in New Zealand!”

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