Two of the best Christmas cards to come Quidnunc's way this season have been from politicians. MEP Brian Crowley has sent out 6,500 copies of a painting called A Son Is Given by his sister Deirdre Crowley, and Tanaiste Mary Harney, who says she didn't like the cards offered to her, chose a lovely painting of choirboys in the snow outside a church, which was the winner of a competition held among schools in her Dublin South West constituency. The artist is 16-year-old Leona Browne of St Paul's Secondary School, Greenhills.
Then there's The Nativity by Gerrit van Honthorst. It was chosen by both the Fianna Fail press office and the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbanus. Some connection there surely? The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's card features the traditional Government Buildings with a Christmas tree.
The President, Mrs McAleese, is continuing her bridge-building. Her card features a painting by 12year-old Ciaran Smyth of Dunshaughlin National School in Co Meath called Come To The Edge. It depicts a bridge across cliffs and people holding hands.
Meanwhile, Mrs McAleese, who is staying in the Aras over Christmas, and plans a few days in Rostrevor, a holiday with her children and a trip to Ampleforth College in England later in the month, possesses a beautiful hand-carved wooden crucifix but she doesn't know who gave it to her. The card stated it was a gift from a group of Irish pilgrims to Bethlehem, but she is still left wondering who she is to thank.