CHRISTMAS comes early for Skibbereen man Daniel O’Driscoll who decks his house in festive frills like clockwork on November 1st every year.

Daniel donned his Christmas jumper to show The Southern Star around his Mardyke Park home which now bears more than a passing resemblance to Santa’s Grotto.

The sitting room boasts a 6ft tree fully adorned with baubles and lights, there’s a grotto under the stairs, the kitchen dresser is awash with Santas and reindeers and he even has a rare collection of Christmas plates from O’Leary’s jewellers dating back to the 1970s.

Daniel (51), who works in Field’s SuperValu, admitted some people might think his actions premature but he shrugged: ‘The neighbours don’t mind, they’re well used to me at this stage.’

He said he always loved Christmas as did his parents, though they didn’t put the decorations up until December as ‘they were sensible’.

‘I put everything up on November 1st,’ he said.

‘I play Christmas music, it just makes everything lovely and cosy. It’s all about feeling good because life can be hard and stressful, and it’s just nice to have something that brings you comfort. This is something that brings me happiness.’

Daniel is also ahead of the rest in taking them down. ‘I don’t wait until the New Year,’ he said.