Fallon's Town Talk: Christmas buzz is evident around Roscommon

Christmas is almost upon us. As I write these words, I’m not long home from the Christmas Carol Service in the Sacred Heart Church. In keeping with all the major set piece occasions in Roscommon Town this festive season, the carol service was uplifting and joyous. The music was suitably rhapsodic and in keeping with the standards built up over the years.

Given that the service took place on the winter solstice, ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ was an apt choice for one of the carols, even if the musical celebration was anything but bleak. The town has been buzzing for the last few weeks and all the indications are this has been a bumper Christmas for local businesses.

Tales of a spending boom have been manifold across the country. For much of this year, economists warned about the impact of the US tariffs on Irish businesses but, thus far at least, there isn’t any evidence of a significant slowdown in the Irish economy. The town’s social life has an added vibrancy in recent days as young people return home and workplaces close for their holidays.

Nevertheless, this Christmas has reflected the paradox that has been at the core of Irish society in recent years. In the midst of this financial bonanza, we have a housing crisis and record levels of homelessness.

RTÉ Radio 1’s ‘Morning Ireland’ carried a special report last Friday from the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin. About 3,000 people will receive a €50 food voucher from the Centre this Christmas. In the report one of the contributors said this voucher could be the difference between the recipients being able to enjoy the festive season or not. This is in the context of Irish people being expected to spend an average of just under €1,200 this Christmas.

Christmas is a time of looking back and looking forward. 2025 feels like it will be remembered as an important year. Our own government has struggled to make an impact. The coalition got embroiled in a needless row over speaking rights at the start of its term and failed to build up any momentum during the rest of the year. They continue to struggle to make any inroads on housing provision.

The nadir for Fianna Fáil was the presidential election in which they made the disastrous decision to select renowned former Dublin manager, Jim Gavin, as its candidate. The ramifications are still being felt with Taoiseach Martin only holding on to his position as FF leader because there isn’t currently a viable alternative.

The weird jinx that has haunted FG in presidential elections continued and Independent candidate, Catherine Connolly, emerged as the clear and deserving winner. A video of Connolly’s soccer skills turned out to be a pivotal moment in the campaign.

That turned out to be appropriate as the Irish soccer team, unexpectedly and thrillingly, catapulted itself back to national prominence in November with World Cup qualifier wins over Portugal and Hungary. The road to ultimate qualification is still daunting but the public is now engaged with the soccer team again.

Locally, Aoife O’Rourke copper fastened her place among the greatest sportspeople Roscommon has ever produced by emulating her sister Lisa, and winning a world amateur boxing title.

‘The Traitors Ireland’ turned out to be the TV hit of the year. The reality show captured the public imagination in a way that is rare in the 21st century. It was a throwback to ‘Normal People’ and, before that, ‘Love/Hate’ in that it felt everyone was watching the same programme.

Memories toy with us as we look back at the Christmases of the past through a kaleidoscope of fond nostalgia. Beloved movies and songs provide the reassuring backdrop. Yet, after all these years, it’s still hard to beat ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas, a story first read to us by a teacher in primary school, for evoking this time of the year. If you haven’t read it, you should try, or, even better, go on to YouTube and listen to the author conjure the tale in his distinctive, lyrical tones.

Most of all, it is a time for thinking about the people who have made Christmas special for us, our families and close friends. Sadly, for so many people, this is a lonely time of year as they think of the loved ones who are no longer around. The barrage of advertising and incessant Christmas music make little allowance for those feelings. To all readers, I send best wishes for a Happy Christmas.