For his family in Cork, this has been the second Christmas without Hugh Coveney, the Fine Gael TD who died in a fall from a cliff on March 14th last year. He was walking his dog when he slipped and fell to his death. I had been in close touch with Hugh Coveney not long before his death because he was organising a tribute to his mentor and friend, Peter Barry, a former Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was retiring from politics.
Research on an article this newspaper carried was made all the easier because of Hugh Coveney's helpfulness. He made possible access to former Taoisigh and senior diplomatic figures who had known and worked with Peter Barry. The celebration of a life in politics took place on a Saturday evening.
By the time of the tribute to Peter Barry, five of the Coveneys were well advanced on a round-the-world trip on board the family yacht, Golden Apple. Their aim was to raise £1 million for the Chernobyl Children's Project in Cork.
Before he died, Hugh Coveney told me it would be one of the proudest moments in his life when the Golden Apple entered Cork Harbour again after the epic journey.
His plan was to stand on a headland and watch his family guide the yacht safely back to port. It wasn't to be; instead the journey had to be cut short and the five Coveneys had to return from the other side of the world.
The sailing marathon in aid of the people of Belarus had caught the popular imagination, and people from all over Ireland and further afield were following the progress of the Coveneys and Golden Apple.
They were in the Galapagos Islands when an e-mail message to the yacht conveyed the terrible news.
The island idyll was suddenly shattered. Rory Coveney has recounted it all in his book just published - Voyage of Hope - the proceeds of which will go to the Chernobyl project.
The journey was completed after the funeral and there was to be another homecoming - this time, a joyous one as Cork Harbour filled with small craft to welcome the Coveneys back.
The book, published by Mercier Press at £15, will stand as a lasting tribute to Hugh Coveney.