Christmas as the Aras : VinB Special Wednesday night (Dec 21st)

[David Cochrane]

This just in from TV3

CHRISTMAS AT THE ÁRAS: A VINCENT BROWNE SPECIAL ON TV3

The first keynote interview with President Michael D Higgins since his election and inauguration

The President and his wife Sabina to talk to Vincent Browne about their elation at the President being elected, their hopes for the Presidency, settling into and spending their first Christmas at the Áras

Christmas at the Áras: A Vincent Browne Special airs Wednesday 21st December at 11:10pm on TV3

Christmas at the Áras: A Vincent Browne Special is the first keynote interview with President Michael D Higgins since his election and inauguration.

In a wide ranging, personal and intimate interview, the President is joined by his wife Sabina, to talk to Vincent Browne about their elation at the President being elected, their hopes for the Presidency, settling into and spending their first Christmas at the Áras. The pair also speak openly and movingly about their family histories.

President Michael D Higgins reveals his homesickness: “Sabina is very important in it all (the Presidency) and she has made a very good transition and what she is saying is I have found it a bit tougher to leave Galway, and I have…I left Galway quite suddenly because the election had been pushed out a week because of the referendums and that meant you had a shorter period between the result of the election and the inauguration than you’d normally have. So I just really hadn’t a chance to pack very quickly. I was down in Galway since for a Galway United match, about which we won’t say much...and for the Connacht Toulouse Heineken cup match, and they were very valuable.”

Sabina on adjusting to life in the Áras: “We were eased into it by all the staff. The house has a life of its own, an activity and a rhythm all of its own, and it’s all geared towards the Presidency….Michael was missing Galway a lot because I had a bit more time. I didn’t realise it at first that there was a part of the house that was our house, private, you know. And that would be our home and Michael must think of coming home to there.”

President Micheal D Higgins on his father: “I think that my father never overcame what had happened to his life. I think he was very angry. I remember small incidents when I was a small child, of him bringing me to see his friends in Limerick, I enjoyed that. He had great value on those friends that had stayed with him as his life changed. He was somebody I felt in a way, that I had lost the opportunity of being very close to him. I was probably closer to my mother in the other sense and I felt very much that their relationship had been damaged by all of these changes.”

Christmas at the Áras: A Vincent Browne Special airs Wednesday 21st December at 11:10pm on TV3

[Grumpy Jack]

All I'm seeing here is Mario doing both

[Grumpy Jack]

Actually, if TV3 just got Mario to do the two of them, would anyone notice the difference?

[Ulster-Lad]

You spelled Christmas wrong there Dave.

[Dylan2010]

sounds like it will be vomit inducing, about as bad as having to listen to an X Factor wannabe telling us about how much it means to them yada yada.....

[woodyviking]

2 legends

[gatsbygirl20]

2 legends

I am looking forward to that. I understand Michael D's feelings about leaving Galway. Any of us who have ever left Galway, feel the same...

Vinnie is never that good when he is out of his element, or when he is trying to be polite, or attempting some poor approximation of a harmless, nice guy.....Better to keep him in his studio chair where he can utilise his filleting and shredding gifts to the full.....

There's lots of gutting, plucking and stuffing to be done yet, Vinnie, before the start of the season of goodwill to all men....

Yes, indeed, as a poster pointed out, the whole thing will be a bit like Mario, and very easy to lampoon...but sure, what harm..

[former wesleyan]

Is it on at the same time as the Queen ?

[uriah]

sounds like it will be vomit inducing, about as bad as having to listen to an X Factor wannabe telling us about how much it means to them yada yada.....

You don't 'have to' listen to either.

[Jackass]

Is it on at the same time as the Queen ?

Is the Queen on tv Wednesday night? David Norris, TCD lecturer, Senator, and Ireland's much loved protestant should be allowed to address all his loyal subjects.