The Irish Times

In this excerpt from The Irish Times Election Daily podcast, political correspondent Harry McGee explains how gangland figure and political candidate Gerard Hutch got his famous nickname.

Upon learning that Dublin City Council inspectors gained access to one of his properties, landlord Marc Godart ordered that the workers he deemed responsible be sacked and outstanding wages withheld. For more on this story go to irishtimes.com.

In 2023, controversial landlord Marc Godart told colleagues that new contracts should stipulate that workers are hired by Itzig Sarl, one of his family’s Luxembourg companies, rather than by an Irish-based company.“The reason is we don’t want to be exposed to any prosecution if we do not get along with an employee or a person that works for us,” Godart explained in a voice note.For more on this story go to irishtimes.com.

In Conor Pope’s exclusive interview with Santa, Irish kids from Bray, Co Wicklow to Queensland, Australia, messaged the man in red with questions asking about his habits, from beard grooming to cookie-eating, what sort of exercise he takes and how, he circumnavigates the world in one night, and much, much more.Thank you to all the boys and girls who sent voice and email messages. Unfortunately Santa couldn’t get to all of them but he has taken your names and checked them against his list, twice, so expect nice surprises on Christmas morning.M&S Food has everything you need for the festive season, including a wide range of snacks that Santa will enjoy to leave out for him on Christmas Eve

Trisha Lovett 's letter to her friend Carrie Lee. Read by Rosita Boland.

A Christmas card sent by Trisha Lovett to her friend Belinda Lee. Read by Rosita Boland.

Ann Lovett's Christmas letter to her friend Belinda Lee.Read by Rosita Boland.