Every family has one: the parent who says “Don’t be buying me anything” in November and means it. They have the jumpers, the candles and the good whiskey. What they don’t have is something that’s entirely theirs.
This page is for anyone looking for a Christmas present for their mam, dad or grandparents that will still be on the shelf, and still being picked up, long after the decorations come down. We’re a small Irish family firm, and for more than twenty years we’ve been helping people find exactly that.
The newspaper from the day they were born
Our best-known Christmas present for parents is the special-date newspaper book: a reproduction of the full edition of the newspaper from the day they were born, taken from the archive.
Picture Christmas afternoon. The dinner’s done, the fire’s lit and your dad is turning the pages of the paper from his first morning in the world. He’s reading the sport, laughing at the old advertisements and calling out the prices. Before long, everyone is leaning in, and the stories start.
Each book is:
- A reproduction of the full edition of the newspaper from the chosen date, taken from the archive (not an original copy)
- Hand-bound by Kennys Bindery in Galway, a second-generation family bindery
- Embossed with their name on the cover, free of charge
- Personalised with your own greeting printed inside
- Rounded out with a collection of the major news and sport stories from that decade
The book is €149.99. Find their newspaper →
Read more about the newspaper from the day you were born.
Pick the paper that came in the door
The best choice is usually the paper they grew up with. The Irish Independent, the Irish Times, the Irish Press and the Cork Examiner (now the Irish Examiner) were all part of daily life in Irish homes. If the date falls on a Sunday, choosing the Irish Independent gives you the Sunday Independent from that day.
For many parents, though, the real delight is the local paper from home: the Kerryman, the Western People, the Anglo-Celt, the Southern Star, the Meath Chronicle and dozens more. That’s where the names, the parish news and the county matches are. We stock more than 30 Irish national and local titles.
Gifts for both parents: their wedding day
For a couple, consider the newspaper from the day they were married. Our anniversary newspaper book (€149.99) has both their names embossed on the cover and can include each of their birth dates too. It’s a wonderful joint present, and especially fitting if a ruby or golden anniversary is coming up in the new year.
Christmas gifts for grandparents
Grandparents are often the hardest people on the list and the easiest to delight with this. The newspaper from the day they were born takes them back to a childhood their grandchildren have only heard about. Add a greeting from the grandchildren inside the cover, and you have a present that becomes a family heirloom.
If a grandparent has a big birthday coming up in the year ahead, a Christmas order takes care of it early. See our ideas for 70th, 80th and 90th birthdays.
For the parent who lives for sport
Some dads and mams would trade any book for a replay of a great All-Ireland. Our sports history books gather decades of great sporting days into one handsome volume:
Each can be personalised with their name on the cover and a message inside.
Something for the wall: a framed front page
If your parents would rather have something on the wall than on the bookshelf, we can frame a page from any special date in an aluminium silver frame with a black mount, with a free greeting printed above the masthead. Framed pages are available for the Irish Independent, the Irish Examiner (the Cork Examiner in older years), the Irish Press, the Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News, the Belfast News-Letter and local papers. The Irish Times is available as a newspaper book only. See framed pages →
Why it works as a Christmas present
- It’s personal without being awkward. It’s about them, personalised and touching without being overly sentimental.
- It gets the family talking. Expect stories you’ve never heard before.
- It lasts. People return to these books for years, and they’re often handed down.
- It’s made in Ireland. It’s hand-bound in Galway by a family business and put together by another.
Order in good time for Christmas
Every book is personalised and bound by hand, so please order early. Newspaper books are usually delivered within three working days anywhere in Ireland, and framed pages take three to five working days. In the busy weeks before Christmas, please order by Friday 18 December 2026 for Christmas delivery. If you’re cutting it close, call us on 01 2952173 and we’ll tell you honestly what’s possible.
Choose a newspaper book, €149.99 →
Frequently asked questions
What’s a good Christmas gift for parents who have everything?
Something they can’t buy for themselves. The newspaper from the day they were born or married is unique to them, and that’s why it lands so well with people who insist they need nothing.
Can I get a gift for both parents together?
Yes. Our anniversary newspaper book uses their wedding day and can include both of their birth dates, with both names embossed on the cover.
Which newspaper should I choose?
Go with the paper they read growing up, or the local paper from where they were born. Our FAQ has more guidance, or call us and we’ll help.
What’s the Christmas order deadline?
Please order by Friday 18 December 2026 for Christmas delivery. Books usually arrive within three working days, but the earlier the better in December.
Can I add a message from the grandchildren?
Yes. Every book includes a personalised greeting printed inside the cover.
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