Christmas shopping took me to some major malls in and around Dublin, during which I looked around for some evidence that we are about to celebrate the birth of Christ. There was precious little.

The places were festooned with lights, glitter, Santas, reindeer and invitations to buy an arrray of goods. But even the word 'Christmas' was hard to find. Instead I was wished 'Season's Greetings' or the dreaded American 'Happy Holiday'.

Eventually I did find Christmas when we took our grandchildren to the Glenroe Farm in County Wicklow. Here there was an authentic old-fashioned experience- a nativity scene in an actual stables complete with live animals, Santa and 'Mrs Clause' sitting in their kitchen, surrounded by pots and pans and ready to talk at length to the children, a good quality gift for every child, a puppet show and a chance to visit and feed real deer. And all for €15 with free admission for adults.

Glonroe Farm is a gem at any time- buit especially when Santa comed to stay.