To get into the Festive mood our roving reporters hit the streets of Dublin to find out what the city’s inhabitants really want Santa to bring them this year…
All I want for Christmas is…
Donal Fallon – Presenter of the Three Castles Burning podcast. Author of 14 Henrietta Street: From Tenement to Suburbia (Dublin, 2021)
I still dream of a Civic Museum returning to Dublin. Like the Musée Carnavalet in Paris or the brilliant Stadtmuseum in Berlin, a museum that tells the story of Dublin from its foundation to the present day would be a welcome addition to the city.
We had one before, with such weird and wonderful things as Bang Bang’s key and Admiral Horatio Nelson’s head, in a space run by the city itself. Few cities are more deserving of such a place than the Hibernian Metropolis.
Maggie Finney – Mani Pizza
Hi, I’m Maggie, and I work at Mani Pizza, and all I want for Christmas is affordable housing.
Cat – Chapters Bookstore
“I want a better rail service to and from Derry
Jerry Fish – Singer and Festival Curator
I have spent the last two years recording songs about the fragility of humanity and the simplicity of love, with my dear friend MayKay. ‘Dreaming of Daniel’ a tribute to the late, great Daniel Johnston. Sadly, the album is marred by what’s going on in the world around us, the abject madness and cruelty of humanity, and the horrors of war perpetuated by the warmongers of the world. So this Christmas more than any in my lifetime, I am praying for peace. Peace on earth, as it should be.
Mello Hex, Retro – Georges Street Arcade
I would really, really love a kind of community space for creatives and artists to work from, so we could all collectively work somewhere that’s made for queer and creative people because we’re being pushed out of Dublin city, and rents are so expensive.
Martin Rieta – Roots
Hey everyone, my name is Martín. I’m from Argentina, I (have been) working here at Roots since March, and all I want for Christmas is (to) go home, see my family, my friends. Hug them, tell them that I am fine here, and that I really miss them also.
Dwayne Woods, Publicist and Artist Manager at Butter Wouldn’t Melt
All I want for Christmas is…
A door to close, and some privacy,
Immunity from politicians and bureaucracy.
Just four strong walls to call my own—
I’ve been fighting for years for a place to call home.
All I want for Christmas is…
Global peace and honest news,
A world where Palestine isn’t used as a ruse.
Are we doing enough, as we watch genocide on TV,
Sitting idly by our keyboards, sipping our tea?
All I want for Christmas is…
A job where I can finally thrive,
Where creativity sparks and dreams come alive.
To weave a story, to make a mark,
To feel like my work is more than a lark.
All I want for Christmas is…
A reason to believe, to keep holding tight,
To see through the chaos, the flickers of light.
To make peace last for all of our days,
Because it’s not just for Christmas, like puppies or the Gays.
Tom Fitzhenry, Dublin Vintage Factory
Summer’s over now but there’s a real lack of rooftop bars in Dublin, fuckin’ none of them.
Grace McEvoy, Arts Curator – Culture Date With Dublin 8 Festival
All I want for Christmas is a vibrant cultural life in the city, where our creative communities have inspiring and accessible spaces to live, work, create and share their talent. I’d like to see new developments being harmonised to meet community needs along with the many derelict buildings, ecclesiastical and other significant sites open for cultural use. I want to see strong, visionary leadership in our new government—leadership that truly values and champions our identity as an Irish nation.
We need leaders who deeply understand the significance of our arts, culture, history, and heritage, and who are committed to promoting them in a way that is both authentic and deeply woven into the fabric of our society. Our rich traditions, culture, history and heritage are not just part of our past—they define who we are and guide who we can become.
Alex Morgan – Nine Crows
… A pair of new rocks.
Alan Buckley – Button Factory
Hi, my name’s Alan Buckley, I’m the head tour guide in the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum here in Temple Bar, and all I want for Christmas is for people to be kinder to each other.
Henna Redmond – The Grand Social
Hi, I’m Henna from The Grand Social, and all I want for Christmas is for the Irish rail to come back. Irish Rail, please come back.
Aoife Carrigy, Food, drinks and travel writer & editor, Wine writer, Irish Independent’s Weekend Magazine
All I want for Christmas is… A way to support and show solidarity to those enduring the outrageous ongoing situation in Palestine, and all those exiled Palestineans watching the horror unfold from afar. Which is why I love the beautiful tokens of solidarity (like the map of Palestine as a red, green, black and white pin badge, or gold-coloured pendant) and excellent Al’Ard fairtrade foods (such as Palestinian olive oil and sumac harvested by local farmers maintaining ancient traditions against all odds) sold through the webshop of the wonderful Izz Cafe in Cork city.
See izz.ie/collections and alard.ps for more information.
Daniel Kelly – Arboretum
Hi, I’m Daniel, I’m from Arboretum, and all I want for Christmas is a new 3D printer.
Amy Griffin – Retro – Georges Street Arcade
… Rent and housing prices to go down.
Angela Dorgan: CEO, First Music Contact
All I want for Christmas is for the Basic income for artists to be retained and expanded after the end of the pilot so that all artists and musicians can live a life where their profession is acknowledged and supported
Also, for everyone to buy Christmas gifts from Irish Artists for Palestine so they can raise loads more funds. most of all Santa, a ceasefire in Gaza. PLEASE.
Graham Sharpe – Music Maker
How’s it going, I’m Graham Sharpe. I work in Music Maker, and all I want for Christmas is loads of Lego.
