Depending on what part of the country you are in, white Christmases are generally few and far between. To be honest after the big freeze of 2010 and the nightmare faced by all getting home to their loved ones, we'd be happy enough if the snow held off again this year.

Then again, there really is nothing quite like that feeling of looking out your window on Christmas day and seeing drops of snow hit the ground. It's bloody beautiful and we all know it.

So what are the chances of this Christmas being a winter wonderland? Well not that great as it turns out. Ladbrokes bookies have priced the odds and at the moment it stands as Dublin, Knock and Shannon at odds of 4/1 for a white Christmas, while Belfast is at 7/2.

While the chance of snow falling all twelve days of Christmas (from December 25 to January 5) in Dublin is at 33/1. (It could however be a very wealthy New Year if that bet comes in for someone.)

But enough of this odd talk, what does the all-knowing Donegal postman think?

Michael Gallagher told the Irish Mirror; “Of all the years I have said there is a chance of a white Christmas, I would certainly say that this is NOT one of them. I just can’t see it.

"I would actually say we’re going to have a fairly normal winter with little storms and very little snow. A lot of rain I would think but nothing out of the ordinary.

"There are very few series on the trees. If the trees and bushes are laden with berries then it is usually nature’s way of helping birds to stock of up for a harsh winter ahead.

"We didn’t have a great summer and generally when we do not have a great summer and that is followed by a mild autumn like the one we’ve had, we general escape with a mild enough winter."

So good news really for those of you travelling long distances home this Christmas, and sure for the rest, you can always do what Bing Crosby did and just dream of a white Christmas.