Hooray... the Holly Bough is now out!

IT’S arrived! Halloween has been spirited away, November is upon us... and the 2019 Holly Bough is now on the streets.

The brand new edition is marking its 122nd anniversary and is as popular as ever among Cork households during the festive season.

Editor John Dolan and his team of helpers have excelled themselves this year in delivering an extra-large bundle of Yuletide joy: A rattling good 164-page read, with some of the best writing and photographs you will find anywhere.

The wonderful cover art was designed by Kinsale illustrator Don Carey and depicts a Christmassy scene based on an actual photo of Patrick Street taken more than a century ago.

Inside, the Holly Bough team have unearthed some amazing stories to grip, move, shock, and entertain you.

Meet the first female bus driver in Ireland.

Read the ‘dad joke’ from Cork that’s 119 years old.

Find out the answer to the riddle: What goes up in Cork and down in Dublin (clue: you use it every day.)

Plus, you can find out the definitive recipe for spiced beef at Christmas from Cork actor Shane Casey, read about the Cork county football championship that lasted longer than Brexit, and there is an extra special gift for readers this year: an exclusive festive short story written just for the Holly Bough by internationally acclaimed, best-selling Cork crime writer Catherine Ryan Howard.

The 2019 Holly Bough, which is published by The Echo, also celebrates and commemorates the people of Cork who were involved in the conflicts that racked this island a century ago, and salutes people who were involved in the world wars.

And, of course, who can forget the joys of getting your teeth into its famous Diffney Quiz and prize crossword...

It’s all there, and so much more besides. Secure your copy today, from all good outlets or via the website http://www.hollybough.ie

Editor John Dolan said: “This is my 17th year in the hot seat and I can safely say it’s the finest Holly Bough we have yet produced. Although we have writers, historians and experts contributing to it, the Holly Bough is mainly comprised of ordinary people telling extraordinary stories about their lives, their relatives and ancestors, and their memories.

“It’s written by the people, for the people — and that bond and tradition only gets stronger each year — while the Photo Gallery showing people with the publication around the world just gets bigger and bigger! I’m also blown away by Don Carey’s cover design. If that doesn’t get you in the festive mood in the coming weeks, then nothing will!”