Galway Advertiser 2000/2000_12_21/GA_21122000_E1_034.pdf 

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The twelve Galwegians of Christmas
- f a v o u r i t e fesitval f u n a n d games by some f a m i l i a r faces
EVER WONDERED what the popular among us eat and drink at Christmas and who our dream dinner companions are? The
Galway Advertiser

selected 12 well known Galway

people and asked them to reveal all.
Christmas. There was one, about two years ago when all my family got together. That was great. Fantasy dinner companion: Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn. I know they're both dead, but they would be amazing company, and w e ' d have something in common to talk about.

actress Kathy Kelly as her fictional character Linda La Hughes from the BBC sitcom Gimmie, Gimmie. Gimmie! If she happened to be busy then perhaps I could go skiing with Pats and Ed from Absolutely Fabulous. But most of all, at Christmas, I would have to say my darling mother would be my ideal companion for the day.

ERIC LAVINE, S T R I K E R F O R GALWAY UNITED Favourite drink at Christmas: In Barbados, where I am from there is a drink called Kresma, that's my favourite Christmas drink. It's similar to Bailey's, but not as strong. Bailey's is a good substitute though. Favourite Christmas dinner: I like the traditional Christmas dinner, turkey and ham and the veg and potatoes. I'm looking forward to having Christmas dinner with my family in Galway this year. This is my fourth Christmas here. Fantasy dinner companion: A nice girl. Any nice girl at all. I am not fussy. Any offers???

They've all been very similar, but the food always tasted nicer when I was a kid. Fantasy dinner companion: My girlfriend.

PAUL FAHY, ARTS PROGRAMMER AND PUBLICIST Favourite Christmas drink: This depends on the situation of course! Champagne is always a welcome offering and is suitable for any time of the morning, afternoon or evening. To accompany Christmas dinner I will enjoy a Lebanese red wine, Chateau Musar, and being a big fan of white wines I will also have a glass or two of Marques de Riscal Rueda from Spain. Although not a great fan of Christmas I always enjoy Christmas carols played on the bells of St. Nicholas Collegiate Church which reminds me that it is well and truly lime to have a good strong hot port, one of my favourite winter drinks. Finally there's nothing wrong with a Gordon's G&T. Favourite Christmas dinner: I am a very strict vegetarian, a vegan to be precise, and have been for many years so I avoid the traditional dinner of turkey and ham. I always cook foT myself and Christmas day is no exception. I will begin with a Red Onion Tarte Tatin served with salad of rocket leaves. My main course will consist of aubergine, courgette, and red and yellow peppers. These are roasted with garlic and balsamic vinegar to begin with and then covered with a vegan pesto, (smoke dried tomato vegan, basil, garlic, olive oil and roasted pine nut) in between each layer of vegetable, served on a bed of couscous with coriander and harissa.) This will be accompanied by baby potatoes, roasted with olive oil and garlic and my favourite roasted vegetables squash and beetroot. I thankfully have not got a sweet tooth and avoid desserts. Fantasy dinner companion: 1 would like to have a hysterical Christmas this year and would have a great laugh with the

Guinness on Christmas morning, followed by some good wine. Favourite Christmas dinner: The best dinners were when my son was alive a few years ago. It is very unfortunate that we have to have Christmas dinner without him now. Fantasy dinner companion: My son, Darren. I would love my son and my dad to be there, and the rest of my family of course. That would be my ideal.
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Sophie Small

JARLATH FEENEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE O F GALWAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. Favourite drink at Christmas : I'm a lover of Spanish wine. That's what I drink -- a good Spanish Rioja. Favourite Christmas dinner: I'm a traditionalist with food, so it's turkey and the rest. I've tried other things, but it j u s t isn't Christmas without the turkey. I think the best meals were so good that I've forgotten them. Fantasy dinner companion: That's a very difficult question as I have four daughters and a lady I share my life with. Assuming I could invite my family too, I suppose the Pope would be a good guest. I think he could do with a good dinner, and I think the kids would enjoy it. As long as he likes Spanish wine we'd get on very well.

SOPHIE SMALL, CURRENT MISS GALWAY Favourite drink at Christmas : I love a rose wine. I've been to France many times with my parents and we always bring some back with us. A white Australian Chardonnay comes a close second. As for red wine, I don't like it at all - it's too strong, and too heavy. I even find the colour off putting. 1 feel full of life after a glass of my favourite rose. Favourite Christmas dinner: Definitely steak and garlic butter presented to me by my mom. Turkey and ham is nice but I find it too traditional and love steak as an alternative. Fantasy dinneT companion: Jared Leto, Cameron Diaz's partner. Yeah, I think he should drop Cameron and come to Galway and have Christmas dinner with me!

JADE YOURELL, ACTRESS (JASMINE ON FAIR CFTY) Favourite Christmas d r i n k : Red wine with dinner or vodka and tonic. Favourite Christmas dinner: I'm a big fan of lamb, lamb with everything. I think I'll be having lamb again this year. I have loads of h a p p y m e m o r i e s from

CIAN 6 CIOBHALN PRESENTER OF THE RAIDIO NA GAELTACHTA SHOW AN TAOIBH 11 I'll VII . AND THE NEW TG4 MUSIC PROGRAMME RIANTA. CIAN IS ALSO THE MAN BEHIND THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL NIGHTCLUB, UOTH STREET. Favourite drink at Christmas: Gin and tonic. Favourite Christmas dinner:

Neville M a x w e l l , O l y m p i c rower and world medalist Favourite drink at C h r i s t m a s : My favourite Christmas drink is Bailey's, can't get enough of the stuff. Favourite Christmas dinner: The one my mum cooks, it's a winner every year. My sister-inlaw Jean is a close second on this account though, her cooking is great too, she should give up the day job. Fantasy dinner companion: My ideal Christmas guest would be Billy Connolly. Why? Because dinner would probably last for hours and humour at the table is a must. But I must say my most memorable Christmas was last year, my first one with Rach, my wife to be. We had a great time in Galway, meeting friends and having fun.

GRACE M EDWARDS, A REFUGEE FROM KENYA Favourite Christmas drink: Tuskar, it's made from Barley. Favourite Christmas dinner: Chapati, its' made from flour, water, and milk. It's a type of pancake which is the traditional Christmas dish of my tribe the Gikuyu. My birthday is on Christmas Day and my mother makes special food and she hides all the presents, which I have to ask her for a week in advance, and having all my grandmothers and aunts around. Fantasy dinner companion: Wanya Morris from Boys II Men and Nelson Mandela.

CHRISTY O'CONNOR JR. GOLFER AND FREEMAN OF GALWAY CITY. Favourite drink at C h r i s t m a s : Wine, especially Rioja. I like my pint of Guinness of course -- I always have a barrel in for Christmas. We usually have about 33 or 34 people for Christmas, and we always have a few pints of