The Spirit of DUAL

The Spirit of DUAL

Celebrating family, community, and values that guide us all year round…

As 2025 draws to a close, we felt it was the perfect time to step away from our usual articles relating to our products and policies and instead shine a light on something that connects us all on a more personal level – the traditions that make Christmas special. In the insurance industry, much of our year is spent planning for the unexpected, but December is a season where we embrace the familiar comforts of family, community, and celebration. Whether it’s gathering for the Late Late Toy Show, braving icy waters for a charity swim, baking a family recipe, or volunteering to support those in need, these traditions remind us that Christmas is about joy, generosity, and togetherness. This month, our team wanted to share some of their own holiday traditions.

‘In the Barniville household, we always make sure to have our Christmas decorations up by Late Late Toy Show night and we also must attend at least one panto during the Christmas period – often, more than one!

For the past 8 years or so, I have taken part in a secret Santa type arrangement organised by Hayes McGrath which provides presents for children and teenagers of families being assisted by SVP’

Tim Barniville, Head of Professional Indemnity

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without homemade recipes for Shane; ‘I will always make the gravy, from scratch, to go with Christmas Dinner, especially if dinner is in my in-law’s house… none of this shop-bought stuff!

A tradition I miss from home is the annual Poc Fada/Road Hurling event, usually held on St. Stephen’s Day in many GAA clubs in Cork. Teams of 3 puck (poc) a sliotar around a 3km-4km route of the highways and byways of the parish in the least number of pucks. There’s usually some questionable score keeping but it’s a great family day out and an ideal way to work off the excesses of Christmas Day.’

Shane Barry, Head of Cyber

Kate enjoys braving the Irish Sea… ‘One of my favourite traditions growing up was going to Curracloe Beach every Stephen’s Day with my family. My Dad would always brave the freezing cold water for the charity swim, and sometimes Mam would join in too. It was all organised by the local Round Table, and the beach would be packed with families, laughter, and a real sense of community. Afterward, we’d pile into the local pub, still, where we’d be treated to fizzy drinks and crisps; pure magic as a kid!

These days, we still try to make it down for a Christmas swim. It’s a tradition I really want to pass on to my own kids. There’s something I just love about jumping into icy water after a day of indulgent food and drink, it clears the head and warms the heart!’

Kate O’Connor, Head of Business Development

Helen keeps busy with family and charity work across the festive season!

‘One of the “Furlong” family traditions is that we fry rib eye steaks for the breakfast on Christmas, this is a tradition that has been going back many generations.

More recently we go ice skating the Saturday morning leading up to Christmas, everyone wears a Christmas jumper and goes for breakfast afterwards.

Oisin and I also volunteer for Cottage Autism Network, a charity very close to our hearts, next Sunday we will be volunteering at their Christmas market.’

Helen Furlong, Business Development Executive

‘Every year since 2020, I’ve taken part in the CarePack initiative. It connects volunteers with residents in nursing or care homes to send a small gift for Christmas. It’s a lovely way to give back, and the residents are always so grateful for the gesture.

This year, we are taking part in this initiative as a team at DUAL in Ireland. It’s lovely to introduce this initiative to a wider audience and provide a little joy to more residents in nursing home in Ireland.’

Amanda Robinson, Marketing Manager

Adrienne recalls both old and current traditions, we had to include them all!

‘When my children were young, we always had great fun watching the Late Late Toy Show all wearing the Christmas PJs with treats and hot chocolate at the ready.  Another one they loved was making the gift boxes filled with toys and goodies for the HOPE shoe box appeal, they would receive back a letter of thanks and photo from the child/children that received the gifts which was lovely, as they got older we did the tradition of placing unwanted coats on the Halfpenny Bridge for the “Warm for Winter” campaign.

Every year we attend midnight mass, we take a piece of straw from the crib and place it on our Christmas tree as a symbol of protection, good luck, and prosperity.  A piece of straw taken from the crib is an old tradition that is considered a good deed representing the belief that it brings kindness, prayers, good health, and support for the coming year, if you have a loved one or friend that is in ill health or grieving it is said to bring them comfort and strength, they too can place it on their Christmas tree or keep as a lucky charm in a book or wallet.

Every year I make a traditional Christmas cake using my mother’s & grandmother’s old recipe, my brother does the same and we compare notes over the Christmas to see who has the most successful bake it does get very competitive especially when it comes to decoration and doing blind taste tests with other family members.

As a family I meet my siblings every year before Christmas for celebration drinks, rules are you must wear Christmas jumper and a Santa hat which was always a fun night with stories from our childhood.  Now that our children have all grown up it has evolved into a big event with two generations coming together to join in the festivities.’

Adrienne McCarthy, Office Manager

This year, instead of sticking with any traditions, Joanne and family are breaking the norm…

‘This year we are completely breaking tradition, and we are all going to New York to meet and spend Christmas with our daughter Lucy.’

Joanne O’Sullivan, Renewals Underwriter

Looking back on the traditions our team has shared, from pantos and midnight mass to charity initiatives and family gatherings, it’s clear that the spirit of Christmas reflects the values we live by every day. Putting people first shines through in the way we prioritise family and community. And just as our families, friends and communities can rely on our trusted traditions year after year, our clients rely on us as the partners of choice they can trust, all year round.

For us, the festive season is not only a holiday; it’s a living reminder of the values that guide us all year round.

All the team at DUAL Underwriting Ireland DAC would like to thank you for your continued support throughout 2025 and wish you well this festive season.

DUAL Underwriting Ireland DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Its firm reference number is C187789. DUAL Underwriting Ireland DAC is registered in Ireland No. 633531 with its registered offices at: 98 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 F3F2.