A HUGE 40-foot high blow-up Santa Claus lit up a community over the weekend as part of a winter festival.
Delmege Park in Moyross on the city’s northside was home to the spectacle as part of its annual Christmas celebration organised by local man Jamie Daly.
Three days of festivities took place in the estate, with a stable, treats, and a Christmas tree. But it was Father Christmas which was the centre of the showpiece!
And it was left to local TD Willie O’Dea to cut the ribbon at the event on Friday.
Jamie said: “I think this is the biggest Santa in Ireland. I got him off a little elf who came all the way from the North Pole!”
No doubt one of Santa’s helpers brought it down on the Polar Express which also chuffed into the estate for children to climb aboard!
The community activist hopes once the big festive favourite has done its stint in Moyross, it might visit other parts of the city.
“We have plans to bring him to different parts of the city during the festivities. That’s the plan – they don’t always go forward, but that’s what we hope to do,” he said.
Jamie paid tribute to Project Believe, the group who helped put the festive village together in the community.
“It was great stuff from them all,” he commented. “It’s all so wonderful to look at, at Christmas. We have the whole place lit up. It’s all very positive.”
Mr O’Dea said: “I want to compliment Jamie and his committee for organising this. It’s well-attended every year. We are expecting a lot of people. There’s a lot of gifts and chocolates and presents given out, and it creates a wonderful festive atmosphere up here. It’s just wonderful – it’s all done by voluntary effort.”
As for the former Defence Minister himself, he says he is looking forward to Christmas.
“I think it’s more a state of mind than a day itself! I love Christmas, I’m a real Christmas person. The only complaint I have is the pubs in Limerick are full of amateurs,” he laughed.
