'It's funny how your attitude to Father's Day changes'

A flashy new golf bag, a pair of socks, or just a lie-in? A selection of Irish fathers reveal their hopes for Father’s Day this weekend

Jim O’Mahony, father of one

“I’d love if my daughter could see her way to buying me a ticket for Bob Dylan, which I’ve been hinting about for the last couple of weeks. Or there is a series about the history of popular music I saw bits of recently – I’d love that. Failing all that, a big Toblerone bar for while I’m watching the World Cup.

“The Toblerone is the most likely. I’m always really cynical about these days and think they’re just hyped by retailers to get money out of people. Once you become a father though, it’s funny how your attitude changes.”

Rob Hartnett, father of four

“Father’s Day, for me, normally coincides with the time of my wife’s birthday. This means I have to play it down substantially. I do normally get something of a look-in, and at least this year it’s not on the actual day. My hopes are for Dublin to beat Kilkenny in the Leinster hurling semi-final. I’d give up all the books, mugs and socks for that to happen.”

Brian Carey, father of one

“I think it’s a day to treat yourself as a father. If other people are buying you presents, that’s great. My daughter is only nine, so I don’t expect much. I’d be happy enough this weekend being brought for lunch. My daughter will make me a home-made card, which is lovely and very thoughtful. I’m in a relationship where I’m not with my daughter’s mum, so it’s different.Usually the mother is the driving force behind Father’s Day.”

Matt Cooper, broadcaster and father of five

“I know my kids are excited by the idea of getting something for their father. One of them this morning started saying she knows what she’s getting me, and the others were telling her to stay quiet. I’m not really expecting anything much. The fact that they want to do it is nice.

“Normally on Father’s Day we go for lunch together, but I have the hurling on TV3 on Sunday, so it means I will be out the door at 10am and they won’t see me till 8pm that evening . . . It’s a disappointment, as getting time with them is very important for me.”

Dan Boyle, Senator, Green Party, father of one

“I don’t have any problem with the idea of fatherhood being formally recognised. It is a commercial event though. I don’t remember it being as big a thing when I was growing up. My daughter is 20, and she is studying in England, although she will be around this weekend. I don’t know if we will be in the same place at the same time. I’d be thinking more of where she is and how I could be helping her rather than how she could be acknowledging me. She might do a job for me. I have about 70 odd socks I have to put back into their pairs.

“My daughter is of an age that she has far better relations with her mother. I’m told we’ll be on full speaking terms by the time she is 25!”

Tony Tormey, Fair Cityactor, father of two

“It’s not a day I look forward to like a birthday. The joy the kids get out of making a card for you and picking a present makes it. Before the kids came along a lot of stuff didn’t make sense to me. When they do come along, these days, like Mother’s Day and that, take on a whole new meaning.

“I just want the kids to be happy. What I normally would get is breakfast in bed – the kids are still quite young. If they did win the Lotto, I wouldn’t mind a Harley-Davidson. They’d want to be very generous kids. I’ll wait until they are 10 to ask for that!”

John Creedon, RTÉ Radio 1 broadcaster and father of four

“I have to say I look forward to it because my daughters never fail to surprise me in some way. Having said that, I’m all against designated days. Obviously it’s a marketing idea dreamt up by someone in a card company. My idea of affection is to surprise somebody on a wet Tuesday when they least expect it. Top of my wish list would be time. You reach a certain age and realise the only currency is actual time. Restaurants I can do any day, maybe a walk or something like that would be much better.”