Cracking start to Christmas season in rural area in Offaly

THE Killurin Community Alert & Development Group (KCAD) hosted a festive Christmas Party last Saturdaytogether with the turning on of the Christmas lights at the Killurin GAA Clubhouse, with the very special guest of honor, Santa Claus, and was attended by families from across Killurin.

Santa arrived by reindeer sleigh and parked at the back of the pitch, where the reindeer were very happy to munch carrots while Santa met the children in Killurin. He made his way across the pitch on foot to a massive applause. The crowd sang a Christmas  song to welcome him to Killurin.

As the  guest of honour, Santa hit the switch to turn  on the Christmas Festive Lights in Killurin, and impressed with the display, said 'I will be able to see Killlurin so easily when flying here on Christmas Eve, these lights will be a great help to guide the way for me. Well done to all involved'.

The Christmas lights this year are funded by the KCAD community fund with thanks also to Tullamore Municipal District Community Funding, and were installed thanks to the generous help of Rodge Larkin, all of whom are climbing quickly to the top of Santa’s good list this year.

The children of Killurin and the surrounding area met with Santa in a special grotto inside the clubhouse, where they received a pre-Christmas present, with Santa reminding them to get their letters to him. He said all Killurin children’s letters were received except for three, so he’s hoping everyone gets to the post box in Tullamore soon so he gets them in good time.

The young, very young, and older adults alike had time to talk to Santa and also got their photo taken with him in his grotto thanks to Ciara Kinnarney. Festive treats and tunes combined to make a great community gathering, with neighbors meeting and stories and laughs being shared. 

Santa thanked everyone for coming before going on his way to visit more of the children in Ireland and around the world.

The Killurin CAD committee especially thanked Kieran Keenahan, Willie Casey, and Stephen Brazil for erecting the Christmas tree, and also with Leo Dunne, Brendan Dunne, and Johnny Casey for hanging the lights. Massive thanks were given to the Killurin Field Development Committee for the continued use of the clubhouse, to the Killurin Foróige young members for decorating the clubhouse, and for music and face painting at the party. The tasty crêpes were thanks to Carmel Feerey, adding to the spirit of the night with the sweet crêpes aroma. Thanks was given to Dan Lawless also for his continued support. The committee expects everyone to make Santa’s Good List this year. The KCAD committee is made up of Eileen Dunne, Ethel Keenehan, Siobhan Arnold, Marisa Seery, Nuala Murtagh-Carton, Eoin Carton, and Ciara Kinnarney. 

Photos from the night will be available on the new Killurin CAD website, which launches this week on  www.killurincad.com. The website was kindly sponsored by Dotser and lists the activities in Killurin as well as the history of the group’s achievements and plans for the future as well as a fundraising platform. If you want to get involved in anything in the area, you can drop them a message through the contact page on the new website.

The next festive event in Killurin is the Killurin Field Development Annual Christmas Card Draw, which takes place on Wednesday, December 20, at 8 pm in the Clubhouse.