Black Santa 2022 launches as the Christmas Tree Festival returns to Nenagh

The Black Santa Appeal 2022 was launched last Friday in St Mary’s Church of Ireland Nenagh.

This year’s fundraising event will support the Nenagh Conference of the St Vincent de Paul.

Reverend Paul Fitzpatrick said St Vincent de Paul is a worthy and relevant cause.

“We are delighted that with the volunteers that all the funds will be given to them in very, very difficult times as people prepare for Christmas and the New Year. They are pivotal for that.

“So, it is an extraordinarily relevant and worthy cause,” said Rev Paul.

The Black Santa Appeal will take place at the Old Dunnes Stores building on Pearse Street Nenagh from Wednesday, December 21 to Friday, December 2022, 2-5pm.

On the day, the appeal will be supported by the Ormond Brass Band and a selection of local artists.

BLACK SANTA

The event’s name comes from a Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev’d Sammy Crooks, who 44 years ago held a sit-out for charity.

A local newspaper nicknamed him Black Santa.

“We launch once again the Black Santa of 2022, its forty-fourth year. It began as a way of focusing and raising funds for charities, so we continue it here for the third or fourth year in Nenagh, said, Rev Paul.

Last year the appeal raised funds for the Friends of Nenagh Hospital and the Neonatal unit at UHL.

Speaking at the launch, Nenagh Superintendent Ollie Baker said the volunteers do the ‘heavy lifting’, and the gardaí are happy to provide their support.

He said in his short time in Nenagh, he has been impressed by the community spirit.

“I’m always amazed, and we come across a lot of community groups that find themselves in a position to help people in volunteering, and we are just amazed at the amount of activists in communities that attach themselves to a worthy cause,”

“This is a fabulous event, and never more has there been a time when people were in need, and I think St Vincent de Paul helps out in so many ways that are not publicised, and we are delighted to be attached and be able to support it, said Supt Baker.

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

This year’s Black Santa launch took place during the church’s popular annual Christmas Tree Festival.

The festival returned this year following a break of two years due to the pandemic.

Local people, groups and schools contribute a range of handmade Christmas trees for display at the church and for visitors to vote on.

The event took place between December 7 and 11 and ended with a carol service on Sunday.

LOCAL SUPPORT NEEDED

Rev Paul said the people of Nenagh are most generous and hopes they will support the appeal this year.

“I hope everyone will come and join us. It takes place between 2pm and 5:30pm on each of the three days.

“ There is a great collaborative effort spanning all creeds, beliefs and none. All are welcome, and the Nenagh public is so generous and kind to us,” said Rev Paul.

Rev Paul thanked the volunteers, local artists, local clergy, An Garda Siochana Philly Ryan and the local media for their support of the event.

He also recognised Fr Des Hillary and Dean Rod Smyth, who have retired and gone on sabbatical, and Garda Maureen Finnerty, who he said was instrumental in setting up Black Santa in Nenagh.