In Reply to: mchale road christmas tree posted by oliver killeen on December 14, 2009 at 02:00:27:

Oliver, what a wonderful piece you have written. It certainly brings back fond memories to me of our Christmases spent at #33 McHale Road. Santa, was not always loaded down with gifts by the time he reached our house as there was so many of us living there. However, he always managed to find some little thing in his sack for each one of us.

Times were way simpler back then and the world was a more peaceful place. We were not afraid to wish someone a Happy Christmas" lest we offend them. Of course governments throughout the world today are now trying to discourage us from celebrating Christmas and suggest that we have a Happy Holiday instead or perhaps we are wished "seasons greetings". Well, as long as I have breath in my body, I will always celebrate Christmas as the feast of the birth of Christ just like we did all those many years ago in Castlebar.

In celebrating Christmas my way, I have no wish to offend anyone and I respect every other persons right to celebrate it in their own way as long as they respect mine to celebrate it my way. Thanks again Oliver for bringing the memories flooding back to me of those wonderful Christmases so very long ago........a HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a safe, healthy & hopefully prosperous New Year in 2010 to all the Nostalgia board contributors and to all my family and friends in dear old Castlebar