'We thought we were millionaires when we got a doll and a pram' - older people reveal their childhood Christmas memories and an 'apple and orange' in their stocking

"The Irish Independent attended the Friends of the Elderly in Dublin party to hear people's recollections of the gifts received and the people they miss"

""I got a twin-tunnel train and a teddy bear," Thomas Larkin (82) said as he recalled Christmas as a child in Ireland."

"Mr Larkin, from Banagher, Co Offaly, was among those attending the Christmas party of Friends of the Elderly in Dublin, a charity for older people."

Friends of the Elderly in Dublin hosted a Christmas party where older attendees shared recollections of childhood gifts and memories of people they miss. Participants described specific presents, like a twin-tunnel train and a teddy bear received by an 82-year-old from Banagher, Co Offaly. The gathering provided an opportunity for social connection, reminiscence, and emotional reflection among older people. The charity event emphasized the value of companionship and remembering past family and community ties during the holiday season. Attendees represented varied backgrounds but united in celebrating shared memories and acknowledging the absence of loved ones.

Read at Independent