A former worker from Derry's iconic Austins department store has shared stories of the 'magical' Christmas toy department.
Adrienne Carlin Donohoe worked in Austins toy department over some festive periods, purchasing her own tree from Austins 29 years ago.
Adrienne spoke to MyDerry about the emotional and magical moments she experienced in this much-missed store.
She said: "I worked in the Austins toy department after coming back from Australia almost 30 years ago.
"The store was such a theatrical place to work, I was involved in a local drama group and being in Austins was like being on stage, it was not a normal shop. There was always something going on.
"At the time I had a small child, I had beautiful memories of previous Christmas’ in Austins so my own sentimental feelings came out working in there. I would remember going to see Santa in Austins when I was a child, it was so magical.
"I tried to create that wee bit of magic in the toy department. It was a very special place."
Adrienne spoke about stand-out moments she experienced in the toy department.
She said: "I remember one little child, his mother came in and was besotted with the stuffed wild animals, the child was introduced to them and was so fixated by them. I could not believe it then years later when I saw that the child grew up to open Wild Ireland.
"It was amazing to see other children coming in, a boy wanting a fire engine then going on and growing up to become a fireman.
"One sad story I will always remember was when a grandmother in, a young grandmother, with a couple of children, and one girl about four or five and I asked what would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas?
"She reached out to me and said 'I would love Santa to bring my mammy back from heaven.' I told her about the magic of Santa in that you can’t see Santa but you know he is there. I told her it is the same with your mammy you can’t see her but she is always there watching."
Christmas at Austins is a time that all Derry people have a memory of and Christmas in Derry's city centre has never been the same since its closure.
Adrienne said: "One thing that always stood out at Christmas was the Austins window, with characters and scenes. I remember Snow White and the Seven Dwarves when I was a child. And there was nothing for sale in the window, it was purely for entertainment and for the children to stop and watch.
"I think people in Derry were devastated when Austins was closed. It was more than a building, it was the heartbeat of the diamond and the city centre. There were so many events on all year round.
"You walked through the door, there was a doorman, it was such a unique experience. Presents that came from Austins were always treasured. Everyone had fond memories of Austins, of gifts they received from there and experiences they had in there."
Adrienne and her family still bring down their Austins tree and decorate it every year. For Adrienne, the memories of Christmas' gone by under the same tree are priceless.
She said: "I got the Christmas tree on my sons first year, 29 years ago. It was an investment but it has lasted almost 30 years. My grandson now sits in front of that same tree.
"It is the sentimental value of the tree that is important. Those that I have lost all has their toast around that same tree.
"That is what is important to be, looking back at all the years we have enjoyed under the same tree."
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