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Here's everything you need to make sure cards and pressies arrive for Christmas

Hopefully your Santa list went ages ago.

CHRISTMAS IS NEARLY upon us. Hopefully you were super organised and posted your Christmas cards and presents weeks ago.

santas coming Giphy Giphy

But if not – the last day to post Christmas cards within the Republic of Ireland to arrive in time for Christmas is tomorrow, 21 December 2016.

Last dates

Merry Christmas 2011 Lee Cannon Lee Cannon

If you want to send your letters and parcels by standard or registered post, tomorrow is absolutely the last day you can send them to arrive before Christmas. But if you use Express Post you get an extra day – you can use Express Post until 22 December 2016.

Get your letters there safely

shutterstock_163232024 Shutterstock / Laura Bartlett Shutterstock / Laura Bartlett / Laura Bartlett

It’s not just about posting your letters on time,  you also need to help An Post – who are dealing with up to 7.5 million items per day in the run up to Christmas – to make sure your letters and parcels arrive as quickly and easily as possible.

Here are some tips:

  • Write the address as clearly as possible in capital letters.
  • Always include a sender’s name and address in the top left hand corner of the item.
  • Make sure you have the correct postage for the destination, mail type and service.

Packaging presents

shutterstock_327654194 Shutterstock / aboikis Shutterstock / aboikis / aboikis

If you’re sending parcels through the post, here’s some advice on packaging them properly so they arrive in the best condition possible:

  • If there is more than one item in a package, wrap each separately.
  • Make sure there is enough padding to protect everything – shake to check items aren’t moving inside the parcel.
  • If posting delicate items, wrap each in bubble wrap and write FRAGILE on the parcel.
  • Use the correct tape. Do not use cellophane, masking tape, or string.

Letters to Santa

shutterstock_116295415 Shutterstock / Pressmaster Shutterstock / Pressmaster / Pressmaster

Hopefully you already got your letter off to Santa, but just in case you haven’t, remember:

  • Santa’s address is: Santa Claus, North Pole.
  • Use a 72c stamp.
  • Include your name and address for a reply if Santa has time.

Have you sent all your Christmas post yet? Let us know in the comments below.

Remember, tomorrow is the last day to send your Christmas post to the Republic of Ireland. Head to An Post now to calculate postage rates and everything else you need for your presents and cards to arrive safely. Merry Christmas!

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7 Comments
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    Mute Joe_X
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    Apr 26th 2022, 6:45 PM

    Michael O’Leary needs to remember that he is the CEO of an independant airline, and when government’s need to make such decisions for whatever reason, of course they will favour their airline that they pump public money into…anything else would have them lynched.

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Apr 26th 2022, 6:50 PM

    @Joe_X: I don’t think thats the point. It’s the favouritism towards Lot Airlines (illegal under European law) that is the source of the complaint. If it’s true; Ryan Air is correct to complain.

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Apr 26th 2022, 7:00 PM

    @Vonvonic: It is and Ryanair are right. Pure protectionist policies that will drive prices up for those who have fewer alternatives. Not the first time this Polish government have attempted to have their cake and eat it too, when it comes to EU membership. Fair dues to Ryanair in this instance, one of the few corporations with the resources to take on Governments engaging in sharp practice.

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Apr 26th 2022, 7:07 PM

    @Eoin Roche: 100% This has Kaczyński written all over it.

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    Mute Joe_X
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    Apr 26th 2022, 7:14 PM

    @Vonvonic, Eoin Roche: So say it was an Irish Airline and the Irish government was putting public money into it, would you still be happy about that? After all it would be our tax money that the government would be putting into it, qould you still favour Ryanair’s complaint?

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Apr 26th 2022, 7:24 PM

    @Joe_X: Not a question of liking it or not. It’s a question of legality.

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    Mute Wooden Spoon
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    Apr 26th 2022, 8:08 PM

    @Vonvonic: We can say what we want about Ryanair but Lot Airlines are a truly awful experience

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    Mute Joe_X
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    Apr 26th 2022, 9:23 PM

    @Vonvonic: True, but now I have read the report correctly, I actually don’t think it is a case of favouritism or legality but safety of Polish airspace. Now, we all know how much Michael O’Leary, and therefore Ryanair likes to complain if it looks like another airline even looks like it is getting an advantage. Not for the fact another airline is getting more, but because it is free publicity, and despite being the country’s biggest success story, Ryanair really tries to portray itself as the underdog the whole time. Look at all the giving out they has done about Lufthansa over the years. However, when it comes to some cities which have 2 airports, it is nearly always the secondary one that Ryanair flies into, as it is cheaper. The thing is, most public money allocated to the airports would go into main airport’s facilities, and Ryanair would give out about that. Frankfurt in Germany is an examle of that. Warsaw is an even better example at the moment, as the article is saying that due to the ATC industrial actions the government has to reduce flights. Now this is so they can ensure that there is enough ATC staff to monitor and control aircraft in Polish airspace and it would make sense to give priority to the city’s main airport as it would be larger with better facilities, and that is the point of the Ryanair complaint. The secondary airport has to take the hit because there are not enough ATC staff to ensure the safety of both.

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    Mute Mr Cylinical
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    Apr 26th 2022, 8:49 PM

    Why can’t the Polish Air traffic controllers sneak in a few extra charges to Ryanair?

    Landing: €400
    Taxiing: €150
    Gate fees: €270
    Schedule changes: €620

    Would you like to add Fuelling to you visit?

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    Mute artur fil
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    Apr 26th 2022, 10:06 PM

    Population of Poland was 38mln two months ago is 41mln at the moment. I wouldn’t worry about tourism at the moment.

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    Mute Tom Mullally
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    Apr 26th 2022, 8:01 PM

    From an economic perspective it would reduce tourism to their country. It would however reduce carbon emissions.

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