And so to Christmas.

We rang Chris Keogh, our landlord, on the 23rd, and he rose beautifully to the occasion.
There was no way we could get to the cottage with the Renault but if we could get as far as The Merry Ploughboy pub he would ferry us all up to the cottage.
He warned us that once we were there we would be isolated for at least two days.

Were we game ?

You betcha !

We headed off and bought the whole Christmas in Tescos (why is Dublin now reduced to shopping there, they are everywhere and I hate them)
We then crawled skidded and slid to the Merry Ploughboy from where Chris ferried us (and our embarrassing quantity of wine and food) up the hill.
He had done a great job in getting the cottage warm and decorated and with a tree for Christmas- and there were even presents for us all under it.
By this time it was dark so we didn’t realise what a beautiful spot we were in.

The following day the rest of the family arrived at the Ploughboy : Aonghus and Caitriona with Fionn and Ruadhán, Colm with Deirdre, Eileen and the Goose and all were ferried up the hill by the ever obliging Chris.

Here follows pictures of the day- I apologise if it looks a little a Bing Crosby Chrismas Special from the sixties- fact is it just did !

This was the first thing that met our eyes on Christmas morning, the view out the door of the cottage.

This was our cottage, note that one of the drainpipes had already collapsed with the weight of snow and icicles.

Eileen and Deirdre showed a touching faith in Santa Clause on Christmas morning.

When Icicles hang on the wall and Dick the shepherd blows his nail.

The local wild life were curious and strangely unafraid.

The now extended Butler family, including the 12 day old Ruadhán

Fionn on his toboggan, what a way to spend Christmas !

Even Ruadhán nearly managed a smile.

Snow Sisters.

Happiness is a soft warm grandfather.

Christmas Dinner.

On balance, Fionn decided that Christmas was a Good Thing.