Saoirse Hanley: It’s not my first Christmas contending with the Grinch of grief, but my first without my granny and we’ll honour her wonderful life

Saoirse Hanley: It’s not my first Christmas contending with the Grinch of grief, but my first without my granny and we’ll honour her wonderful life

A lot of people say Christmas is their favourite time of year. But it really, really was my late grandmother’s favourite time of year. Every December, her little bungalow in Cork would come alive, and the tree in the corner of the living room would soon be marooned by a sea of presents for dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and even grandchildren’s partners.