CHRISTMAS WITH… INCREDIBLE INNOVATORS

PJ KIRBY

Q: WHERE WILL YOU BE SPENDING THE FESTIVE SEASON THIS YEAR?

A: “Back in the family home in good old Blarney Street, Cork. It's the longest street in Ireland, you know? It's my ‘fun fact’ when you need to introduce yourself at those awkward team-building meetings.”

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY GIFTING GO-TOS?

A: “Gift-giving is definitely one of my love languages and I really like to think about what the person would appreciate. I like getting people well-designed everyday bits that they wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves. For your friend who loves a good dinner party, I'd check out the brand HAY as they've great glassware and table setting bits. Anyone who dyes their hair will kiss you if you get them an Olaplex gift set. I don't really buy people clothes but feel like a scarf is a safe bet and Acne Studios has a fab selection. (If my boyfriend is reading this, yes I'm dropping hints!) Oh and a good one for the office Secret Santa is a gorge candle from D8 Candle Co. and you'd also be supporting a local Irish business, stunning!”

Q: WHAT’S THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

A: “One year a good few of us in the northside of Cork got electric scooters which I know sounds mad. I think it was peak Celtic Tiger vibes or there was just a fella in the pub selling them out the back of a van! Either way, there was a bunch of 14-year-olds booting around the estates. We had some laugh and to be honest I think I could do with one now!”

Q: …AND THE WORST?

A: “I'm a bit picky with clothes and one year a family member (who will remain anonymous) got me the ugliest T-Shirt I’ve ever seen. It had a lion riding a motorbike made out of diamantes on it which I know sounds kind of iconic…but it wasn't. Anyway I felt bad so I wore it to Stephens Day lunch and bumped into a fella I was texting at the time, I wanted the ground to swallow me up!”

SHOP PJ’S CHRISTMAS WISHLIST…

BEN SUN

Q: FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS MEMORY?

A: “It would definitely be cooking Christmas dinner with my mum and my sister. I find it so entertaining and funny because, to be honest, my sister and I are terrible cooks and I can’t tell you the amount of times the kitchen nearly went up in flames. In the end, we always somehow manage to make it work (mainly thanks to my mum). I also love setting up the dining room to make it very aesthetically pleasing, I think it helps set the mood. Being able to enjoy a meal that the three of us cooked together is no doubt my fondest memory every Christmas!”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE CHRISTMAS BEAUTY LOOK?

A: “I like to think of my Christmas look as effortless and comfortable, yet still chic. I keep my own makeup minimal for a natural and clean look around the holidays. I tend to focus a lot on my skincare to make sure my skin looks super fresh! When doing makeup for clients or on shoots, I love to go for a party glam/festive vibe. To achieve this, I use a deep red, mauve or even a brown lipstick, with a soft ‘diamond-like’ shimmer on the eyes. Glass skin and a statement lip are always perfect for the holidays!”

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS?

A: “Even though my mum is Buddhist, we still celebrate Christmas and I always grew up with the holiday. The buzz at this time of year is just so electric, I get excited even talking about it! My family and I usually celebrate by having a ‘Chinese’ dinner on Christmas Eve. Then we have our traditional Christmas meal on Christmas day itself. We invite some friends and family over for some Asian food like a ‘hotpot’. I love eating spicy food in general but especially when it’s super cold out.”

Q: WHAT’S THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

A: “I’m a big fan of jewellery so one of my favourite gifts that I’ve ever received would probably be a bracelet my Auntie gave me last Christmas. She lives over in Hong Kong and knew I had my eye on this bracelet for quite a while but didn’t want to splurge just yet. I’ve probably worn the bracelet every single day since I got it, I treat it like my baby! It’s definitely a statement piece of jewellery and one that I’ll have forever.”

Q: …AND THE WORST?

A: “I vividly remember when I was younger (maybe 11/12) my mum handed me an envelope on Christmas Day. Thinking it was tickets to Disneyland or something I ripped it open and instead I got 3 months of maths grinds! I didn’t speak to her for a few days after that whole ordeal. But honestly, excluding that experience, I don’t think I’ve ever received any terrible gifts, I always appreciated any gift as a nice gesture.”

SHOP BEN SUN’S CHRISTMAS WISHLIST…

DONAGH SEAVER O’LEARY

Q: FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS MEMORY?

A: “The first time I saw snow. I remember it so vividly: my parents and I were living in Boston and had stopped at a Motel on the way to Toronto to spend Christmas with family. We had arrived late at night and I was only five so was dozing by the time we checked in. The next morning, we pulled back the curtains and everything was pure, brilliant white. I was completely dumbstruck, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I still don’t, I guess!”

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY GIFTING GO-TOS?

A: “I’m a big believer in experiences for gifts. Theatre tickets, gigs, dinner vouchers, whatever. It gives you something to look forward to in the murky new year.”

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS?

A: “Every Christmas my mom’s family get together and try to beat our red wine drinking record! So far it’s 2btl/person average, but the youngest cousins are getting to drinking age so I’m optimistic about our chances this year. Aside from the ‘Vino-Olympics’, my parents and I slink off to Kerry on St. Stephen’s Day. My dad is from there and the place is absolutely magical and a very necessary calm after the Christmas craziness.”

Q: WHAT’S THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

A: “Before I was a teenager, my late grandfather gave me a box set of the collected works of Shakespeare. As you can imagine, I wasn’t hugely enamoured with it at the time. But now that I’m older, I see the sincere wisdom in that gift; everything that happens in life is there in that collection. It’s one of my most prized possessions.”

Q: …AND THE WORST?

A: “At some point over the years, it became a tradition for someone in my mom’s family to gift a shiny ‘man-thong’ during the Kris-Kindle. It then became a tradition to be forced to try it on in front of the whole family. Picture the scene: you are standing in the hallway outside the sitting room door, collared from the waist up and barelegged from the waist down, hitching up a luminescent silver thong. From inside, the Dionysian chorus of your aunts and uncles are chanting ‘Try it on! Try it on!’ in enthusiastic unison and hissing through Malbec-stained teeth. You have only one option and that is to proceed as a heifer at a mart. Truly terrifying!!”

SHOP DONAGH’S CHRISTMAS WISHLIST…

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