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FAVOURED BY FORTUNE: Lee Dunne, in Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, at the launch of his book 'Dancers of Fortune' in 2005. Photo: Graham Hughes

Lee Dunne's Christmas story: You can call me lucky

I was born on December 21 at 7.30am on a sofa-bed at 162 Mount Pleasant Buildings, which I called The Hill in my first novel, published in 1965.

The fight before Christmas

By Jennifer O'Connell

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house ... was the scent of Dettol and the sound of sobbing so heart-wrenching, it could only mean one thing.

Christmas dinner: a survivor's guide

By Catherine Fulvio

Preparing Christmas lunch can be a juggling act, but I find that having a cooking plan means that I can relax and enjoy the happy day, and minimise stress.

Rolling back the Christmases

Christmas has become too commercial, we have lost the spirit of the season, and people are spoiling their children.

Country lays down welcome mat to thousands home for Christmas

By Allison Bray, John Fallon and Declan Rooney

IRELAND'S international airports are bracing themselves for one of the busiest days of the year as tens of thousands of people return home for Christmas today.

Secret of sprouts is not hard to swallow

By Emma Hallett

Young scientists are investigating the science of one of the key festive foods as they aim to answer the eternal Christmas dinner conundrum: why can't some people stand Brussels sprouts?

Throwing that Christmas tree is all fir a good cause

By Gordon Deegan

THE first ever Irish Christmas tree throwing championship is to take place early in the new year.

Tom Cropp with his partner Kathy Kuehn, who returned home from South Africa

Emotions run high as young flock home for Christmas

By Mark Hilliard

IT has been decades since emigration has been so painfully high, and at Dublin Airport yesterday the consequences were highly visible.

Christmas tree shortage sparks price hike

By Majella O'Sullivan

THE price of Christmas trees has spiked due to a supply shortage, after growers dramatically scaled back in recent years the numbers they planted.

Man in red brings festive cheer to sick children

By Mark O'Regan

SANTA was on hand to spread a sleighload of festive cheer yesterday among 100 children who will spend this Christmas Day in hospital.

Filmed over the course of a year at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which houses some 90% of all known plant species in one form or another, Kingdom of Plants 3D provides a fascinating new look at plant life using stunning 3D time-lapse filming techniques.

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Robbie excited to be a dad

The Angels singer has been training with stars including Olly Murs and Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes from JLS ahead of Soccer Aid 2012 on Sunday, a celebrity charity football match in aid of Unicef.Williams said of his impending fatherhood: "I have been genuinely overjoyed and terrified and then going back between the two on a daily basis and today I'm overjoyed and I can't wait.

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Carey Mulligan's custom-made Prada Met Ball dress sells for $2,950

As co-host of the 2012 Met Ball to mark the opening of the Costume Institute of New York's Prada and Schiaparelli exhibition, British actress Carey Mulligan was guaranteed a knockout gown to wear, and her sequin bedecked Prada dress did not disappoint.