Christmas in O'Connell's

It's hard to believe that it is 13 years since the Guinness Christmas advertisement featuring Yankee O'Connell's pub on the Hill of Skryne, and Jessica and Colm Magnier's horses, was made. Over the last week or so, it has reappeared on our TV screens, a sign that once again Christmas is upon us.

It was a wet night when they shot that ad, with the rain pelting the 'snow' so much off the roof, they had to come back a second night to film it. The floodlights lit up the Hill of Skryne, and inside the pub, there were wires, cables, lights and cameras on all sides. Mrs O was, as usual, keeping manners on all!

Other scenes include the famous gates of the brewery at James' Gate in Dublin, City Hall in Dublin, the Claddagh Pier in Galway and the Custom House.

The pub has become so iconic as a result of the ad (who's to say it wasn't before?), that Newbridge Silver have brought out a Christmas decoration depicting the famous hostelry.

The snow was enduring too - there is still some of it in certain houses around the place!