HERE’S HOW WE celebrated Christmas in Ireland in days gone by – with photos from every decade since 1890.

The 1890s

National Library of Ireland Christmas Day, 1894. Young girl and two boys sitting on the floor with their presents - includling tennis racquets, a train set, a doll, books, a cricket bat and sailing boats. National Library of Ireland

The 1900s

National Library of Ireland Christmas tree decorated with lights, baubles and crackers. Taken around 1900 in Galway. National Library of Ireland

National Library of Ireland on The Commons The festive meat display at Roberts Butcher Shop, Waterford, December 1901 National Library of Ireland on The Commons

National Library of Ireland on The Commons A delivery of Christmas turkeys to Flynn & Young's on Conduit Lane, Waterford, 1907 National Library of Ireland on The Commons

The 1910s

National Library of Ireland A young girl dressed up as Father Christmas with outfit, mask, sack and staff. Christmas 1912 National Library of Ireland

National Library of Ireland on The Commons Photo of the poster for the Gaiety's Christmas panto in 1916, at the height of WW1. Featuring Humpty Dumpty, Mrs Pinch, King Musty Fusty and "The King's Cyclists". National Library of Ireland on The Commons

The 1920s

National Library of Ireland on The Commons A seasonal shop display in 1926. Including Tom Smith's Christmas crackers; Jacob's biscuits; dates and Turkish delight; and Santa Claus plum puddings. National Library of Ireland on The Commons

National Library of Ireland on The Commons Delivering Christmas trees in December 1929. She's doing a great job driving for only a young thing. National Library of Ireland on The Commons

The 1930s

National Library of Ireland on The Commons Pupils at a Wexford school, in costume for (presumably) a Nativity play in 1930. Special contributions from the girl who had to wear the witch costume, and the girl in the beard. National Library of Ireland on The Commons

The 1940s

National Library of Ireland on The Commons Girls at the Sisters of Charity school in Waterford, having their Christmas party in 1949. National Library of Ireland on The Commons

The 1950s

© Irish Photo Archive A Christmas party at St Mary's Preventorium - an institution for children with tuberculosis - in 1952. How terrifying is the guy in the cat suit? © Irish Photo Archive

National Library of Ireland on The Commons The boat train crossing the pier in Dun Laoghaire, on December 25 1959. Public transport running on Christmas Day? National Library of Ireland on The Commons

The 1960s

© Irish Photo Archive Waiting for a bus under the Christmas lights on Grafton Street, 1961 © Irish Photo Archive

The 1970s

© Irish Photo Archive Santa arrives at Crumlin Shopping Centre in 1976 - with a garda escort to protect him from the mob © Irish Photo Archive

© Irish Photo Archive Shopping on Moore Street, Dublin in 1975 © Irish Photo Archive

The 1980s

Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland Selling turkeys in Dublin, Christmas 1984 Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland A turkey vendor and his solitary bird, Christmas 1984 Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

National Library of Ireland on The Commons The Wren Boys in full flight on St Stephen's Day in Dingle, Co Kerry. This photo is undated but was taken sometime between 1980 and 1999. National Library of Ireland on The Commons

The 1990s

Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland The window of the Porterhouse on Dublin's Parliament Street in 1998. Many Temple Bar pubs banned stag and hen parties that year. Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland A young boy bringing home a turkey for Christmas, December 1998 Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland Mary McAleese getting a smooch from Santa in 1999 Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

The 2000s

Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Christmas shopping on Henry Street, Dublin in 2003 Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland Bored children at the Brown Thomas Christmas sales, 2000 Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! Waiting for the Christmas tree to be taken away on January 6, 2006 Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! / Photocall Ireland!

Several photos courtesy of the Irish Photo Archive. The Irish Photo Archive sells fine art prints from its collection of 3.5million negatives spanning 60 years of Irish history, available here.

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