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Alone service user Rosaleen Sheehan is pictured in her home in Ringsend, Co Dublin, with Garvan Rigby, co-founder of Christmas FM. Andres Poveda

Christmas FM returns to the airwaves this weekend

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

CHRISTMAS FM WILL return to the airwaves this weekend.

The Christmas-themed radio station will start broadcasting at midding this Saturday, 28 November.

A spokesperson said the station will “help lift the spirits of the entire nation” – which, let’s face it, is badly needed after the year we’ve had.

The radio station is aiming to raise over €200,000 for the charity Alone to provide over 20,000 hours of support to older people to enable them to live independently in their own homes and communities.

This is the 13th year that Christmas FM has been on air and since 2008 the station has raised almost €2.5 million for a range of charities.

The costs of running the station are covered by various sponsors, ensuring that all on-air fundraising and donations will go directly to Alone.

Cadbury, Coca Cola and An Post are main sponsors for 2020. The radio station will broadcast from the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin, who have given the studio space for free.

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23 Comments
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    Mute The Guru
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:31 PM

    This is a successful company that has built other parks in a number of countries. Don’t think there’s any danger of them collapsing like that other Celtic Tiger pipedream.

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:10 PM

    This type of parc is hugely popular in europe…france in particular…this is long overdue.they provide huge employment for a region.once the access roads arent causing problems for the locals then its all good.

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Jul 27th 2016, 10:43 AM

    Might stop the steady decline in house prices too…..

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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:28 PM

    Mr Power sounds like Grandpa Simpson…

    Dear Mr President there are too many states these days please eliminate three. P.S I am not a crackpot.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Mar 30th 2016, 1:30 PM

    I’ll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize missourah!

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    Mute Dauid Newman
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:40 PM

    This is why we can’t have nice things in this country, the ‘Not in my back garden’ mentality still as strong as ever.

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    Mute John Reese
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:56 PM

    Not only that but you have clowns who don’t even live in the area that can object on multiple daft reasons.
    A Dublin man living in Dublin, once stopped a building being built at Knock Airport.

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:03 PM

    Probably works for the daa. Those boyos try to destroy everything happening at other Airports.

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    Mute Phil Blanc
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:31 PM

    Dauid, some of the objections are for changes rather than to the whole scheme and are well founded.

    Some of them, as we see, are crackpots.

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    Mute Simon Gaites
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:54 PM

    Describing this as a ‘giant water park’ is a little misleading. Not exactly water slides and log flumes…

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    Mute Reg
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:39 PM

    Some may have to take one of the jobs on offer……just saying!

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    Mute Ben Coughlan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:26 PM

    Something, something, Gift Horse, Mouth….

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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Mar 30th 2016, 3:29 PM

    We have a great country but it needs a roof. Now we have it.

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    Mute Darach Malone
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    Mar 30th 2016, 10:26 PM

    If I lived in the area I wouldn’t be disturbed by 2500 people per week arriving. I would be looking at setting up some business that would relieve these 2500 people of some of their holiday money.

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:55 PM

    What do we have to do in this country to have somewhere to go other than pubs. Every county should have one.

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    Mute niall
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    Mar 30th 2016, 1:02 PM

    Something bringing employment to the area and some people cannot open their eyes to the benefits.

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    Mute Darragh Joyce
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    Mar 30th 2016, 7:38 PM

    Because they want to stay on state benefits

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    Mute BoggerBlogger
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:54 PM

    “There’s no pleasing some people.”

    “That’s just what Jesus said sir.”

    47
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    Mute Damocles
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    Mar 30th 2016, 12:54 PM

    Centre Parcs?

    Centre parcs is cool. Love the Centre parcs.

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    Mute Louis Smith
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:19 PM

    Crazy people lodging crazy planning objections is hardly news

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    Mute OwenK74
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    Mar 30th 2016, 3:10 PM

    Some of them will be afrid they will be offered a job !

    36
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    Mute Adam Gill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 4:25 PM

    This is absolutely fantastic for the area. Never mind the hundreds of jobs it will create, it’ll be great for the businesses in the wider area too. The ones in the uk offer off-site activities like quad biking, go karting, laser and clay pigeon shooting, that kind of thing, and hotels restaurants and b&bs in the area get a lot of business from it too – when we go we usually stay overnight somewhere the night before our stay starts, so we get there nice and early on our first day to make the most of it. You also get people shopping in the area before they go (the parcmarket isn’t the cheapest place to shop) or going out for a meal in one of the local restaurants even during their stay.

    Also, it isn’t a water park. There is a swimming pool, but that’s a small part of what Center Parcs is

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 1:32 PM

    1750 jobs, at least 1500 of them will be taken by foreigners.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Mar 30th 2016, 1:40 PM

    by “foreigners”, do you mean Dublin? Besides, nothing wrong with an auld “mix of the gene-pool”

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:00 PM

    Eamonn…you may be right..i suspect quite a few local young adults have emigrated from this area and the jobs eventually on offer at this parc wont be viable enough to enable them to come home and take them….so its likely that immigrants will take them….many of the employees in these type of parcs actually stay in accomodation provided.

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    Mute Phil Blanc
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:33 PM

    - 1750 jobs, at least 1500 of them will be taken by foreigners.

    1750 jobs all of which will be filled by people who apply for them.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:49 PM

    @Eammon

    So?

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    Mute Gone Feisin
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    Mar 30th 2016, 3:10 PM

    Coming from a country that exports a fair amount of people per year since time immemorial, I think your statement is a bit rich Eamo

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    Mute Adam Gill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 5:03 PM

    Nope, no accomodation for staff on site, the space is too valuable

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 7:45 PM

    By ‘foreigners’ do you mean people who have a good attitude and are not work-shy?

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Mar 30th 2016, 7:57 PM

    John..ive been to several similar parks in europe and ive come across a number of young irish working as lifeguards,entertainers etc for the summer..i assume when this park open a lot of the staff will be french,italian etc….a fantastic adventure..and i dont think bad attitude and work shy will be tolerated..

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 8:34 PM

    @Matt Connolly,
    Matt you are some illiterate, if you think a foreigner is someone from Dublin.

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 8:36 PM

    @John Mulligan,
    No. Look the word up in a dictionary.

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 8:38 PM

    @Peter Fechter,
    They won’t be French or Italian.
    They’ll be Eastern Europeans working for subsistence wages.

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 9:54 PM

    @Phil Blanc,
    They will get the jobs because they will undercut the Irish workers.

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    Mute Rachel Walsh
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    Mar 30th 2016, 4:58 PM

    Jesus, longford needs something, it’s a hole.

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Mar 30th 2016, 5:26 PM

    Rachel..it has diversity.

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    Mute Rachel Walsh
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    Mar 30th 2016, 5:27 PM

    lol…. wow, remind me to put longford on list of places to go for my summer holidays then! im humbled.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Mar 30th 2016, 1:25 PM

    Anyone else thinking “league of gentlemen”?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meF7NmfnXZ0

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    Mute Tara Ní Dochartaigh
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    Mar 30th 2016, 1:56 PM

    That artist’s impression needs a roof and four walls with heating enclosing that pool!

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Mar 30th 2016, 2:26 PM

    Lol.
    Better if it was built in Wexford.
    The sunny south east..

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Jul 27th 2016, 10:45 AM

    Stuff Wexford! You have enough attractions, Longford is sadly in need of something like this!

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    Mute Ben Frost
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    Mar 30th 2016, 3:18 PM

    That’s a lot of jobs. I doubt its that many at all. Seasonal work and part time included won’t hit that figure.

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    Mute Adam Gill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 4:32 PM

    Have you ever been to Center Parcs? They employ a ridiculous number of people. Bear in mind the number of businesses that will be opening – it isn’t just Center Parcs, (think a 1000 room hotel with all associated staff) it’s the half dozen or more restaurants, the bars, the cafes, Starbucks, shops, each with their own full complement of staff. Then the dozens of lifeguards, sports staff, coaches etc, the groundskeeper guys, housekeeping. I think you’re underestimating the impact this will have on jobs in the area

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Mar 30th 2016, 5:28 PM

    Adam…..it might even offer some competition for Trabolgan…..

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    Mute Adam Gill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 10:09 PM

    Oh I wouldnt go that far… I mean, it’s good n all, but, like, Trabolgan man!

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Jul 27th 2016, 10:46 AM

    Its all year round jobs lads!

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    Mute Ben Frost
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    Jul 27th 2016, 1:26 PM

    Stop commenting directly to old articles Gus.

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    Mute postman pat
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    Mar 30th 2016, 6:03 PM

    And some people wonder why there is nothing in the country

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    Mute Adam Gill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 4:27 PM

    This is absolutely fantastic for the area. Never mind the hundreds of jobs it will create, it’ll be great for the businesses in the wider area too. The ones in the uk offer off-site activities like quad biking, go karting, laser and clay pigeon shooting, that kind of thing, and hotels restaurants and b&bs in the area get a lot of business from it too – when we go we usually stay overnight somewhere the night before our stay starts, so we get there nice and early on our first day to make the most of it. You also get people shopping in the area before they go (the parcmarket isn’t the cheapest place to shop) or going out for a meal in one of the local restaurants even during their stay.

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    Mute Adam Gill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 5:01 PM

    Sorry for the duplicate! Didn’t think it had posted :/

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    Mute Ailish Bradley
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    Mar 30th 2016, 5:55 PM

    Do centerparcs allow locals to pay as you go?if so I’m happy…

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    Mute Billy Flynn
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    Mar 30th 2016, 8:34 PM

    Objectors probably the suits from Dublin 4

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Jul 27th 2016, 10:41 AM

    Me Power, please tell my which village in the Longford area is missing you? If you dont return they will have to pick a NEW village idiot! You always get one nutter……

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Jul 27th 2016, 10:41 AM

    Mr Power…….

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    Mute Kathy McMahon
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    Mar 31st 2016, 4:17 AM

    This is who is behind it:
    Blackstone Group
    After the subprime mortgage crisis, Blackstone Group LP has bought more than $5.5 billion single-family homes for rent, to be sold when the prices rise. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blackstone_Group#Real_estate Still happy for it to go ahead? How many have had their homes repossessed here in Ireland? This crowd are sitting on homes waiting to make a killing when the prices rise.

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