...plus expert views
on two of the most exciting events
to come out live, in Irish sporting history.
From the power of the punch to the power of the pack,
it's a championship...
Here. Hang on.
That'll do it.
Seen Barry McGuigan fighting last night?
I did, yeah.
Some fighter. Hands like a shovel.
Jesus Christ.
I suppose I'd be in his weight class, wouldn't I?
Yeah, you probably would.
All right. Come on, come on.
How you doing?
Good.
- PJ? - I'll just actually...
The same.
I'm sure you'll need more than that.
- Aren't you hungry? - I am.
He hasn't been paying you enough.
- Is that what it is, huh? - Uh, no.
I'll give you the beef and mash.
He's saving for Christmas, Mrs. Kehoe.
- Present for some new woman. - This is who I'm buying it for.
Oh, well, now listen.
If there is a girl involved, I'm sure
you'll be needing the energy, PJ, doesn't you now?
- He's a boy right now. - ...hairs on your chest.
- Enjoy that now. - I'll have the same,
- Mrs. Kehoe. - Same again.
- Okay, get the stuff. - Very good.
Now, give us a shout if you need anything.
Thank you.
All right, now.
Start accepting it.
- Are you going to help? - Just listen to me!
- Get out! Get out there! - Just listen to me!
Mommy, you're not listening to me!
Just once, you brat. Come on.
Don't make me go in there! Don't make me go in there.
- Stop it! - Please, wait. I'm so--
- Mommy, please! - Stop it!
Daddy! Please! No! Wait!
- Listen to me! - I'm not going in there!
Please, Mommy, please!
- Sarah! - I'm not--
- Stop it! Stop! - Mommy, I am not going!
- Go inside. - Come.
Go on. Go on.
Daddy! Please!
Son?
Hold on.
You all right?
Yeah.
You're Mick Sinnott's boy, aren't you?
Yes, sir.
You're a couple of miles from home.
I came out for sticks for the dog
but he ran off on me again.
Did he?
Well, he'll come back in a minute, I suppose.
Probably, yeah. You never know.
He's a right dope.
Three years old and he still doesn't know his name.
You all right?
Yeah.
Well, I'll drop you back.
Nah, I'll be fine, Mr. Furlong.
Are you sure now?
Yes.
Grand.
All right, say "Happy Christmas" to your family for me.
- Yes, sir. You too. - Okay.
Yes!
- When's the test? - It's on Monday.
Go on, Kathleen. You be the teacher.
- Here, it's hot. - Okay.
- Six years, not a word. - Mm-hmm.
- Hi, Dad. - What exactly am I supposed
- to do here? - Hi, girls.
- Kathleen. - What? There's nothing on them.
Have you forgotten the names of the rivers already?
- No. - You dirty liar.
Right, I have it. Hang on.
Okay, Grace. What's that wiggly one there?
- The River Shannon. - That's easy.
Hush, Sheila.
Right.
And this one here?
The Boyne. The River Boyne.
The River Boyne, correct.
And this one here?
- River Lee. - Wow.
- And this one? - The River Liffey.
- You're a genius. - Give me the cards.
- Top of the class. - Let me hold it then.
- Don't crease it! - Enough, hey!
Why don't you show your Daddy how you learnt them?
Show me, love.
She's just a smarty-pants.
Here you go.
That's your card.
Got two pieces of tracing paper and traced
the outline of Ireland and rivers on one piece.
I laid another piece of tracing paper
- on top and wrote the names. - Good girl.
She's just a smarty-pants.
You should send for my piece.
- Don't, guys, no! - Stop.
- What's that? - Here you go.
Oh, show me, Little Miss Perfect.
Look at you, Loretta.
Hi, Miss Perfect.
Oh, I saw a school friend of yours.
Yeah, who?
Um...
Mick Sinnott's boy.
- Diarmuid's his name. - Diarmuid, yeah.
Whereabouts?
Uh, he was out by Tullogher picking up sticks, so he was.
Did you not stop and give him a bag of timber off the truck?
What? Don't be daft.
- Thanks, love. - You're daft.
You're daft.
Did you stop and talk to him, Daddy?
I did, yeah.
What'd you talk about?
- You're daft. - You're daft.
Uh, I-I said hello and I said "Happy Christmas" to his family.
That all?
A new one.
I-I gave him a bit of loose change.
What did you do that for?
Surely his dad will only drink it.
He's never not drunk, that man.
He just needs to pull himself out of it.
We don't know that, love.
He might be trying.
Uh, girls, have you more homework to do?
Jimmy, we have to say goodbye to you.
But believe me, in the few moments you've been here,
you really have made the show...
Get off!
Get off me! Get off!
"I will honor Christmas in my heart
and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the past, the present, and the future.
The spirit of all three shall strive within me.
I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."
Billy.
What happened to your coat?
Your mother said there was spit on it.
What was it they said to you?
Nothing.
Don't be listening to them.
They're only brats. Hmm?
What was it you wrote to Santa for?
- A jigsaw. - A jigsaw?
A difficult one, I hope.
And what would the picture be?
Anything at all.
A farm with animals.
Sure, I can help you if you get stuck on it.
Yeah?
Are you ready for another Dickens
in the new year, do you think?
Yes, Mrs. Wilson.
Good boy.
You put the record on for me?
Ned?
You all right?
Thank you. Beautifully sung.
All right, now. Shall we?
I'm gonna go ahead and see Bernie.
I told her I'd do flowers for midnight mass. Okay?
- Okay. - Follow me down.
Okay.
Hey, don't look now but they're following us.
Ah, hey, girls. How are you?
- Oh, here they are. - Aha. Where you goin'?
- Here they are. - Hey, here we are.
- Nothin' better to do now? - Free country. Come on.
Yeah, of course. You're hilarious.
- Yeah. They your Ma's shoes? - Go on home to your mommies.
- You smell lovely. - Don't touch us.
Hey, come here.
Have you nothing better to do...?
Come on. I wanna show you something.
Come on.
Say, don't I have a handbag the same color as those fellas.
The navy ones?
Yeah.
I don't know.
Oh, God. Yes, you do.
You want to put the right amount. Well done.
- Make sure there's no stalks. - Wow, what'd I miss?
- Hi, Dad. - Hi.
Check my perfect circle.
- Look at that. - Oh, hello.
- Hello. - How are we getting on?
Well, good.
- Everybody wants to help. - Yes.
- So we've got... - Two hands.
...different stations.
Show me.
This is gonna be the best Christmas cake ever.
- I can't wait. - You say that
every single year.
And every year it gets better and better.
Last year there was stalk in the cake.
You were doing the stalks.
The living room is freezing though,
so you can warm that. Okay.
- Do you wanna do the egg first? - Yes.
- Come on then. - No shells this year.
- Where're the cherries? - Oh, my God.
- I did not enjoy that. - It's such
an important part of the cake.
Go on, give it a wallop.
- Ah, be a good girl. - Oh, no shells. No shells!
- Come on. - No shells!
No shells this year!
"Santa Claus, North Pole."
That can't be all.
Sure.
Everyone up there knows where Santa lives.
Yeah, but how will we know if Santa gets the letters
- on time? - Um...
Daddy will post it first thing tomorrow.
Pass me your plates there, girls.
Everything for Santa goes by express.
Thank you.
Grace.
Daddy, did Santa ever come to you
when you were a little kid?
Daddy?
- What, love? - Did Santa ever bring you
anything when you were a little kid?
He did, of course. Yeah, he--
He...
One year, he...
He brought me a jigsaw puzzle.
A what?
Only a jigsaw?
Yeah.
I didn't want much.
Not like you, Sheila.
I changed up my list.
Oh, really? Let's see.
What do you think it'll be now?
Come on, now, finish up your toast before it gets cold.
How long can we stay up?
All right, you can have a half hour.
- Yes! - That's your lot. Deal?
- Deal. - Deal.
Oh, did you hear?
The Wilson family have sold all the livestock,
and the house and land are to be auctioned
in the New Year.
You're not talking with Ned?
I haven't seen him since the summer.
I must call out to him some evening.
You should invite him over for Christmas Day if you want.
You wouldn't mind?
The house is full.
What's one more?
Have you thought about what you're getting me?
Took me hint this evening.
Oh, God.
Isn't it great you still notice?
What is it you'd like yourself?
Uh...
Well, there's nothing I need, really.
Well...
would you not like a shirt or something?
Oh, may-- maybe a book.
Yeah?
Yeah, I might sit in,
read it over the Christmas.
What sort of a book?
Oh, I don't know.
Actually, um...
David Copperfield.
Yeah. Never, uh...
Never got around to reading that one.
You all right, love?
You haven't been yourself in a while.
How so?
Well...
You're awful quiet.
Do you ever get worried?
Yeah, well,
coming up to Christmas and the expense of it all.
Yeah, sure, that's a worry.
Yeah. Yeah.
And like...
Like, do you think you're doing all right?
Well, I mean, I'm putting away a couple of bob
every week in the credit union.
We'll have the windows and the front done
by this time next year.
Yeah.
Is it that you're just tired, love? Is that it?
Must be, yeah.
Yeah, see, you'd want to stop getting up
in the middle of the night, huh?
It's not good for anyone.
Beautifully wrapped.
Oh!
That's gorgeous.
I thought he might be a good companion
- for the other one you have. - And the same color too.
Oh, thank you, Sarah.
Oh, he's lovely.
What a character.
His little ears.
- Thank you, pet. - You're welcome.
Ah. Now, William.
Oh!
Is this a present from Santa Claus now?
Yes, Madam. This is it.
Oh, freshly delivered.
Goodness! The excitement.
Isn't Santa so good, Bill?
Yes, Mommy.
You'll be nice and cozy with that.
Is 2:30 all right to eat, Mrs. Wilson?
That's fine.
There you are.
Your mom asked me to come get you in.
Didn't you get the present you wanted?
No.
Well...
Next time, you tell me
and I'll let Santa know.
Great friends, me and him.
Will you be all right, Bill?
Yes, Ned.
Right. Come on.
You warm enough, Kathleen?
Yes, Dad.
Thanks, Daddy.
Mrs. O'Shea wants an extra bag with her lot
and Doolans in Clonroche messed up her order.
By how much?
Um, 20 bales.
Huh. Tell them it'll be two days.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
What are you talking?
Any of these fellows out here giving you, um,
any guff, are they?
No.
Tell me if they were.
There's been nothing, honest.
- You swear to God? - I swear to God.
Heading out?
Yeah. I-I wanted to go out later
to Waterford to buy some presents,
but the bus is at four.
I'll ask one of the lads to look after the phone.
Grand.
I'll say it to Pat.
- Are you sure? - Yeah.
- I'll see you later. - Thanks, Daddy.
Can I help?
Oh, uh...
Looking for, uh, Sister Carmel or Sister...
Sister, uh, Mary.
For what?
Oh, I have a... an invoice that needs, um, checking.
Sister Carmel is in the hall straight ahead.
Mister... Mister, won't you help us?
Please.
Please take me to the river
or get me to the other side of the gate.
- Please! - It's not up to me, love.
- Please. - I'm sorry, love.
Please. Please don't leave me here.
Take me home. I'll work for you.
What are you doing in here?
Oh, don't you usually ring the bell?
Uh...
I have, um, I have an invoice for you.
You can take two of the coal away with you
and give us five bales of briquettes.
Oh, I'll have to come back to you.
This afternoon, let's hope.
I-I've a delivery of turf in a couple of days.
It'll be then.
Oh, we can call Forward's in Wexford.
They come straight away, no bother.
Uh...
Haul two back and empty out the rest of it.
We can't have people walking in and out whenever they want.
Do you understand me, Bill?
Y-yes, Sister.
Bring me the turf when you get it,
and we'll pay you for the lot then.
Mommy.
Don't look.
No, look away, darling. Stay.
Ned!
Here, stay where you are, Bill.
She came up to me.
And she asked me to get her out.
To take her as far as the river.
Then what did you say?
That it wasn't up to me.
That's true.
It's none of our business.
She was so scared of her, Eileen, and...
Aren't they fed and kept warm?
Aye.
And given a trade?
Sure if it wasn't for the nuns, those girls would have no--
Don't I know that?
So what do we have to answer for?
Don't you ever question it?
Do you want to get on in this life?
There are things you have to ignore.
You've always been soft-hearted, Bill.
Giving away your change in your pockets,
you know, without knowing the lives of people.
I mean, be honest, though.
It's far from hardship you were reared.
What-- What do you mean by that?
There are girls out there
who do get into trouble, and that much you do know.
Sorry.
Sorry. I shouldn't have said that.
You have to remember what we have.
Let's stay on the right side of people.
Our girls will never go through
what those girls are going through.
What if it was one of ours?
Oh, God, isn't that what I'm saying?
They're not our girls.
Aren't I lucky
that Mrs. Wilson didn't share your ideas?
Where would my mother be if she hadn't taken her in?
And where would I be
without what she did for me?
Her sitting up there
in her big house.
With her pension and her farm
and people to work under her.
She was one of the few women who could do as she pleased.
Mommy?
Oh, you're here. What is it?
Aye? Are you all right, pet?
All right, come on. I'll take you down.
You'll be sleeping in this house now, Bill.
I've had a room made up for you.
You can have another week off school,
and then you best get back. All right?
Do you think my father knows what's happened?
I don't know.
Where's my father?
I don't know.
God help us.
It's all right.
It's all right, child.
Is it the day or night, Mister?
It's... it's dawn. It's dawn.
It'll be light soon.
I'll have my baby here.
Not for five months, they said.
Sister Mary says it'll go to a good home.
Uh...
Come on. No, no, no. Come on now.
Come on now. Come on.
Come on up out of it. Come on.
Up.
Come on, child.
I'll take you in. Come on.
It's all right.
Come on.
Up you come.
Bring her in.
So good of you to come early, Bill.
My God, you gave us an awful fright, child.
Sister Frances was about to send for the guards to look for you.
She was locked in the shed, Mother.
Whatever had her in there...
My God, you poor girl.
Sisters. Take her upstairs.
Get her clean and bring her back to my office.
Thank God you came when you did, Bill.
We'll have some tea.
I'll not, Mother.
You've time to sit. I'm sure my purse is in the office.
Leave your coat off. You'll feel the benefit later.
Sit down and warm yourself.
Tea will be a minute.
So all is well at home, Bill?
All's well, Mother.
And Kathleen has the leaving certificate this year?
She does.
And what will she do with herself?
Uh...
She wants to study, um, business in Waterford.
Oh, she'll do it well. She's a good girl.
And I've seen Joan in the choir.
Sister Carmel says she's as bright as her sister.
They get an excellent education next door.
And you've another two coming to us, don't you?
Another three.
Three?
Sheila will be coming in next September, and then, um,
then there'll be Grace and Loretta.
Hmm.
So many trying to get in.
It's no easy task trying to find a place for everyone.
We'll do our best for your girls. But...
must be a little disappointing all the same.
In what way?
To not have a boy to carry on your name, you know?
Have me mother's name.
No harm ever came from that.
Ah, here she is,
the girl who caused all the drama.
Sister...
You get a chair and put it next to Billy.
And won't you sit on there, child?
Sure here we are now.
Thank God for the fire.
And where would we be without the coal men?
You see, they're forecasting snow for us, Bill.
I think it will arrive tonight.
You can smell it.
Sure the whole world looks pretty under snow.
Will you have some tea, child?
Yes, please, Mother.
And a slice of cake?
Of course you will.
There you go.
Ah, fruitcake for you, pet?
No, just tea.
Here you go.
Now, don't be thinking you're in any trouble.
Tell us how you came to be locked in that shed.
Who put you there?
They hid me, Mother.
Hid you? Really?
Yes, Mother.
Who hid you then?
The other girls did.
How did they do that?
We were playing a game.
Are you not a bit old
to be playing hide and seek?
And did they not think to let you out
when the game was over?
Girl, what's wrong with you?
Wasn't it just a silly game?
What was it, child?
It's just a big nothing, Mother.
A big nothing, that's it.
Now, what you need is your breakfast
and a good long sleep.
Sister Frances, won't you fry something up for this child,
take her into the kitchen and let her eat her fill.
And no work for her today.
She needs to get her strength back.
Poor creature.
Do you have an invoice for me?
Didn't Christmas come in quickly all the same?
That's our settle now, isn't it?
Yes, Mother.
Just a minute.
Here's a little gift for you.
I'm sure Eileen will appreciate it.
Take it now, Bill. Come on.
That's us done, I'd say.
Put them out. Come on.
Mr. Furlong.
What's your name, love?
Sarah.
Sarah Redmond.
- Mr. Furlong! - My name is Bill Furlong.
I work in the coal yard down by the quays.
If ever you need anything, anything at all,
you-you call, come down.
- That's enough, that's enough. - Come down...
I'll be there every day except Sunday.
Out!
Line up, girls!
On your way!
Don't be dallying!
Not a word in the chapel!
You hear me? Not a sound.
The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our faults.
Response.
The Lord is compassion and love.
As the heavens are high above the earth,
so strong is His love for those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far does He remove our sins.
Response.
The Lord is compassion and love.
As the Father has compassion for his children,
the Lord has pity on those who fear Him,
for He knows of what we are made.
He remembers that we are dust.
Response.
The Lord is compassion and love.
The love of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who fear Him.
His justice reaches out to the children's children
when they keep His covenant in truth.
Response.
Oh, shut up.
Someone needs more lessons.
Are you not gonna tell me?
What?
I saw Sister Mary after mass.
She said she gave you a card for me?
Oh, yeah, uh...
It's in my-my coat-- my coat pocket there.
Were you not gonna tell me?
I forgot all about it.
Yeah, I mean--
I said you had, you know.
It just looks like we don't appreciate it.
Mmm.
It's just bad manners.
God, that is so nice of her.
- That'll pay for Christmas. - Yeah.
I hope you thanked her for it.
Sorry, love.
Oh, what ails you?
You haven't said a word all day.
Uh... I'm coming down on a cold or something.
Hi.
Uh, is Ned around at all?
No, he's not. He's been in hospital.
He's fine. I'm-I'm not sure where he is exactly.
My-my brother knows.
Easily know you're related. Is-is Ned your uncle?
Look, you're welcome to wait.
It's fine. Fine.
Are you Bill?
I am, yeah.
My God, I'm sorry, I'm Emma.
We visited here when we were little kids, Emma and Peter.
The house is sold, Ned told you, right?
Um, Wexford Hospital, you said?
Yes, but, uh, but he's in a nursing home outside of it.
He's fine, he had pneumonia.
Peter knows the place, I'm sure.
Will you come in for a bit?
I've to get back to town.
Well-- are you well, Bill?
Oh, I'm grand.
- And your family? - We're all grand, thanks, yeah.
Happy Christmas, Bill.
- It's quiet in here. - All right.
So, will you be putting money behind the bar
for the lads for Christmas Eve?
I think they might have enough now.
They surely do, especially PJ.
Yes.
You gave them a bonus as well as their lunches, Pat said.
Ah, well, they deserve it. Um...
You're a good man, my God.
Are we sorted so?
We are, thank you, Bill. That's lovely.
- Yes, yes, well, um... - Before you--
I just... wanted to ask you.
Did I hear about what happened in the convent? That--
Did you have a run-in with herself?
Look.
It's no affair of mine.
It's not, but...
You'd want to watch what you'd say about...
About what's there.
Keep the bad dog with you and the good dog won't bite.
- You know this? - Ah, yeah. Yeah.
It's just...
Those nuns have a finger in every pie, Bill.
And you can be sure about that.
Mmm.
Look,
you've worked as hard as myself to get where you are.
- We've worked damn hard. - Mm-hmm.
And there's only a wall separating that place
from the school.
You go making a nuisance of yourself now,
you might be denying your younger ones an education.
Never mind how you look to the rest of the town.
And... and what's that then? Tell me.
People can make things difficult for you.
Well, then I know what people are like.
Yeah.
Then you know to do the sensible thing, Bill.
Just... just look after your family
and... and your business
will be my advice to you.
You get me?
I-I do, yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah. - Okay.
- Right. - I best get back out
- to this bar. - Yeah.
Happy Christmas to the family for tomorrow.
Happy Christmas to you too. Yeah.
Will I see you over the holidays?
Aye, you'll see me around here.
- Happy Christmas. - Happy Christmas to you.
- Great quality. - Thanks, Niamh.
- Happy Christmas to you. - And to you and the family.
We'll see you at Christmas mass tomorrow, so...
You will. Bye, Kate.
Bye, love.
Um...
Picking up a pair of shoes.
Um, the name's Furlong.
Hiya, Bill.
- Hi. - Hi.
I'm sorry.
Sarah.
Come on.
Come on, love.
Um... It's Bill Furlong.
The coal man.
I mean you no harm.
Whoa.
Come on, love.
It's... it's okay.
Don't worry.
We're nearly there.
Almost home.
Here we are.