My Blog (Eugene Ward)

 In Christian tradition , especially Catholic and Anglican contexts, the Christmas season officially ends on Candlemas Day (2 February) . Historically, that meant: Decorations stayed up until Candlemas Candles were blessed in church (hence the name) So keeping the Christmas tree up until Candlemas was once quite normal in parts of: Ireland England Spain Italy Latin America

 Christmas was on a Thursday this year and we stayed in Peru. Here's how it panned out. CHRISTMAS EVE Licety waited in a queue for hours on Monday 22nd to get a frozen turkey and prepared it with the help of my mother-in-law Maria Amanda.  I did my bit, looking after it on the 24th. The kids got ready for Santa in their pyjamas. Liam's christmas pyjamas, bought for him in Ireland last year still fit. Emma needed new pyjamas this year. Here is Peru, people celebrate Christmas on the night of the 24th. Liam went to bed but Emma stayed up. And while we were eating turkey and partying inside, we had a visitor on the balcony. We just caught him leaving. CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas Day is more of a relaxed day in Peru than it is in Ireland, We had chocolate and panetón for breakfast, then spent the afternoon by the pool, and had turkey in the evening. 26TH-28TH DECEMBER On the 26th December we went to a hotel inChincha for three days, from Friday to Sunday.  There was a few is...

  DERRY CITY – 2026 LEAGUE PREDICTIONS (FULL LIST) FEBRUARY #1 Fri 6th – Sligo Rovers [H] → Derry 2–0 Sligo   Reality 2-1 #2 Fri 13th – Dundalk [A] → 1–1 Draw  (Played in April) #3 Fri 20th – Bohemians [H] → Derry 2–1 Bohs   Reality 0-1 #4 Fri 27th – Waterford [H] → Derry 3–0 Waterford  Reality 4-2 MARCH #5 Fri 6th – Shamrock Rovers [A] → Rovers 2–1 Derry   Reality 1-0 #6 Fri 13th – Shelbourne [H] → Derry 2–0 Shels  Reality 1-2 #7 Mon 16th – St Patrick’s Athletic [A] → 1–1 Draw   Reality 0-0 #8 Fri 20th – Drogheda United [H] → Derry 2–0 Drogheda  Reality 2-2 — International break — APRIL #9 Fri 3rd – Galway United [A] → Galway 1–0 Derry   #10 Mon 6th – Sligo Rovers [A] → 1–1 Draw   #11 Fri 10th – Dundalk [H] → Derry 2–1 Dundalk  Reality 2-2 #12 Fri 17th – Shelbourne [A] → 1–1 Draw   #13 Fri 24th – Shamrock Rovers [H] → 2–2 Draw   MAY #14 Fri 1st – Bohemians [A] → Bohs...