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'It can be a lonely time of year. That's why I go out working': How it feels to work on Christmas Day

We spoke to some of the people who are getting up early in the morning while the rest of us open presents.

CHRISTMAS MAY BE synonymous with being a time for family but, for the thousands of people across the country getting up again to go to work today, any festive celebrations are set to be put on hold.

The public service features prominently on the list of workers required on Christmas Day, but private sector staff are also required in numerous areas.

From hospitals to hotels, from gardaí to taxi drivers, there are still plenty of people out and about while the rest of us unwrap presents.

TheJournal.ie spoke to some of them to find out what it’s like to work on Christmas Day.

Taxi driver

File Photo DRAMATIC INCREASE IN NTA TAXI CHECKS IN 2016 Wanderley Massafelli / Rollingnews.ie Wanderley Massafelli / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Alan’s been driving a taxi for over two decades.

As he’s self-employed, he is certainly not obliged to go to work on Christmas Day but has chosen to do so more and more over the last few years.

He told TheJournal.ie that there are plenty of financial incentives to go out on Christmas Day.

“A lot of taxi drivers do it for the money, because of course you make extra money on Christmas Day,” he said.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to earn around €600, €700 if they work around an eight or ten hour day.

Alan said that, unlike a lot of other days, the work is constant, and there’s little to no traffic around.

“It starts with people leaving or going to work,” he said. “You know, security guards, nurses, stuff like that. You get a lot of people going to graveyards on Christmas mornings. Then you’ve got people going to relatives. And then there’s those who go to army barracks or golf clubs because bars open there on Christmas Day.”

The motivations for working on Christmas Day, however, are not purely financial.

Alan said: “There are a lot of drivers who are divorced. It can be a very lonely time of year.

Going out to work is the only way they may be able to see anyone on Christmas Day. I’m divorced myself. I’d be waking up with no decorations around me. You just get out to meet people.

He said that it’s important to try and get it into your head that it’s a normal work day, even if you may not feel it.

“There’s no point having a sour head on you,” he added. “People get in the car full of good cheer and you don’t want to put a downer on their day. You put a face on and get on with it.”

Midwife

shutterstock_638374354 Shutterstock / sukanya sitthikongsak Shutterstock / sukanya sitthikongsak / sukanya sitthikongsak

Emily is a midwife based in Dublin. She is married and has three young children.

She told TheJournal.ie that everyone who works in her section keeps a keen eye on the roster from early October, with most of them keen to see what time they have off over the Christmas period.

“You would request to work certain days, but not everyone can get the days off they want, she said.

It’s kind of like an unwritten rule that if you worked Christmas one year, you’d be off the next year. That can be a big bone of contention.

Emily said she’s worked at least six Christmas Days at this stage, with some of those being night shifts.

She said that the atmosphere around the wards can be slightly different around Christmas time, with people doing their best to get in the festive spirit.

That doesn’t mean that it’s any less busy, however.

“In terms of the labour ward, it can be very, very busy,” she said. “If someone’s water broke, it’s not like you can tell them to wait till tomorrow because it’s Christmas.

You mightn’t want to be there, but these people need to be looked after. So you do your job… Honestly, going in on Christmas Day, I would feel a bit of dread but once you get in it’s grand. Everybody is in the same boat. Once you’re in you get on with it.

Emily said that one of the hardest things about having to work today is missing out on seeing the children open their presents after Santa has been to visit.

“I know one of the midwives who’s working today has arranged for Santa to visit on Christmas Eve,” she said. “And they even have their Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve too. It can hard, that’s for sure. But it’s about making the most of it.”

Just because she has children, however, Emily doesn’t feel that she should get any special treatment when it comes to rostering at this time of year.

“A lot of expectation can be unfairly put on the younger girls who maybe don’t have kids to work around this time of year,” she said.

But that’s not fair. Everyone has family and deserves to spend Christmas with them. Everybody deserves to have their Christmas off if they can.

Radio DJ

shutterstock_701826475 Shutterstock / GikaPhoto By waraphot Shutterstock / GikaPhoto By waraphot / GikaPhoto By waraphot

Walter is a radio DJ and works a Christmas Day shift every year.

In fact, he’s a DJ with Christmas FM but he told TheJournal.ie that he never gets tired of the songs.

“You wouldn’t volunteer here if you didn’t like the songs,” he said. “I’ve done the Christmas Day 12pm to 2pm shift for the past 10 years.”

He said that, just before he leaves, he puts the turkey in the oven and it’s usually nice and crispy by the time he gets back.

Due to the nature of the job, Walter said it’s actually a great thing to be working there on Christmas Day.

He said: “You’d have to be in the studio to understand how amazing it is in there on Christmas Day. It’s an upbeat station anyway. It’s all about the family and goodwill, and all the things we aspire to have in ourselves.

We get so many emails and texts from people wishing to send their Christmas wishes to people that we read out on air. Could be messages from one of the country to the other, or as far from Australia and the United States. You become a conduit for other people’s goodwill.

Walter said that he has no problem leaving his family on Christmas Day to go working, and it’s down to this sense of goodwill.

“So I live close so I actually walk to work,” he said. “And you see people out and about enjoying themselves and Christmas lights in all the windows, families seeing each other and things like that. And then when you get in you get hundreds and hundreds of messages. It’s brilliant.”

The station even gives special shoutouts to the others that are working this Christmas Day and he added that it’s a way for people to show their appreciation for those who are working to keep us all safe and cared for on the day.

And as for his favourite Christmas song? Walter didn’t hesitate before he said: “I love Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea. It reminds me of my dad a bit. I really get that whole vibe.

I really love Sleigh Ride by the Ronettes. It’s got the words “jingle-ing, ring-ting tingle-ing” in it. How could you argue with that?

You can find out how to listen to Christmas FM here.

Read: Christmas FM starts today and brings with it the licence to start getting in the mood

Read: Beginning to look a lot like Christmas – watch the Christmas lights go up on Henry Street

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36 Comments
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    Mute noel mc cann
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    Dec 25th 2017, 12:43 AM

    Amazing how prison staff never get a mention last place anybody wants to be on christmas day

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    Mute Marion
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    Dec 25th 2017, 1:34 AM

    MASSIVE respect to medical staff especially nurses who are working tomorrow. Used to be one myself until I changed careers & am now lucky enough to have Christmases off. So to those working in the worlds toughest occupation I hope ye get some decent time off over the Christmas season.

    278
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    Mute Mary Carmel
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    Dec 25th 2017, 4:08 AM

    Happy Christmas to all the nursing and physician staff working over Christmas.

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    Mute Brian Cowan
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    Dec 25th 2017, 1:36 AM

    I work in an acute hospital setting. Was in at 12 tonight and working until 7 tomorrow evening. Very lonely time of the year for me. I do it to take mind off things.

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    Mute Richard Griffin
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    Dec 25th 2017, 1:34 AM

    Big shout to men and women of the Defence Forces who find themselves on duty Christmas day. While everyone else will see some sort of financial gain from there Christmas working day they will be leaving their families to earn less than 2 euro an hour for a 24hr duty… Happy Christmas.

    198
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    Mute Abe Brennan
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    Dec 26th 2017, 12:29 AM

    @Richard Griffin: hard to believe nothing has changed since my Christmas day Guards and stand to.maybe in 2018.

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Dec 25th 2017, 12:14 AM

    Know how you feel doing 14 hours tomorrow.

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    Mute Pat Butler
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    Dec 25th 2017, 12:54 AM

    @Dave Thomas: fair play man. Respect to you

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    Mute Mary Conneely
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    Dec 25th 2017, 7:59 AM

    @Dave Thomas: Me too, Happy Christmas!

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    Mute Sharon Kelly
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    Dec 25th 2017, 1:56 AM

    Here on night duty tonight as a social care worker in a house for adults with learning disabilities…honestly don’t mind as it’s a lovely atmosphere in the house and all the residents are so excited!! But looking forward to 8am tomorrow morning when I get to head home to my daughter, partner and rest of family!!!

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    Mute Micheal Bunyan
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    Dec 25th 2017, 1:02 AM

    Start work at 8am tomorrow…finish at 9pm. Someones gotta do it!!

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    Mute Susan O Connell
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    Dec 25th 2017, 3:14 AM

    @Micheal Bunyan: Happy Christmas Michael

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    Mute Micheal Bunyan
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    Dec 25th 2017, 8:17 AM

    @Susan O Connell: Thank you very much susan. So nice to receive ur comment x

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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Dec 25th 2017, 7:24 AM

    Anyone who is working today Merry Xmas.

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    Mute Tony Stanley
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    Dec 25th 2017, 3:50 AM

    Airline staff like myself. I’m operating a flight back from the Far East tonight!!! So away for all of Xmas and fingers crossed make it home for leftovers in Stephans Day! Lol!

    Great atmosphere and comradary though!

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    Mute marty johnbann
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    Dec 25th 2017, 2:39 AM

    Bars open in the golf course. Must start playing this game

    72
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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Dec 25th 2017, 6:20 AM

    If you didn’t want to work over Christmas, a DJ at ‘Christmas FM’ mightn’t be the job for you alright!

    Happy Christmas to everyone from all walks of life working this festive season, both those who always seem to get mentioned and those unsung heros who never do.

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    Mute Desmodromic
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    Dec 25th 2017, 9:30 AM

    Working on the farm on Christmas morning might be work but there’s a special feel to working with animals on Christmas morning. Perhaps it’s the nativity feeling. Happy Christmas to all who provide for others on this day.

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    Mute Ken Hayden
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    Dec 25th 2017, 3:04 AM

    For all the people who protect this island of Ireland , I love you all .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcHxkQujBio

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    Mute Tomas
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    Dec 25th 2017, 3:01 AM

    Worked xmas day good and bad times,If you left the meter running for 12 hrs straight ,it would clock 344 Euro,so thats complete bunkum.

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    Mute Misanthrope
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    Dec 25th 2017, 7:43 AM

    @Tomas: tips must be good Christmas day though

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    Mute Dow Dubrov
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    Dec 25th 2017, 8:02 AM

    @Tomas: That’s if you say in traffic and didn’t move. With no traffic you can easily beat that number

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    Mute Bingobango
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    Dec 25th 2017, 8:08 AM

    @Dow Dubrov: Also the tips would be fairly good I’d imagine in the spirit of things.

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    Mute Richard Griffin
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    Dec 25th 2017, 8:43 AM

    @Tomas: rubbish. €30 from town to Saggart. 344 me aras…

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    Mute William Bryan
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    Dec 25th 2017, 4:29 AM

    Ye 7 nights on duty , including Christmas eve and Christmas Day , working in ID setting , every day night can and often is the same !

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    Mute Keith Richardson
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    Dec 25th 2017, 8:56 AM

    Merry Christmas everyone wherever you are or what ever you are doing. Shout out to all support and entertainment services for doing serious, important, and uplifting work!

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    Mute Toon Army
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    Dec 25th 2017, 8:19 AM

    Are these all the “people who get up early in the morning” that Leo’s going to look after.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Dec 25th 2017, 8:25 AM

    @Toon Army: can people not just give the Leo bashing a rest for one day?

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    Mute Toon Army
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    Dec 25th 2017, 11:26 AM

    @Sam Harms: You’re right, merry Christmas Leo. Will wear the new multi-coloured socks I got today in your honour :)

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    Mute Tricksy
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    Dec 25th 2017, 9:53 AM

    Happy Christmas to all who have to work or want to work for whatever reason ? And hope the new year brings Ye much happiness in yere lives .

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    Mute Jean Keely
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    Dec 25th 2017, 11:12 AM

    And a Happy Christmas to all the health care assistants out there, who do amazing work and all front line staff may it be a quiet one for everyone

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