All donations & raffle proceeds go to Temple Street Children’s Hospital
Sunday morning got off to a rocky start as we realised the weather was not going to improve, so it was all hand’s on deck to change the setup and venue of the entire event. We had contacted Bridget O’Brien on Saturday night regarding the use of the Parish Hall and even though we had a small window between times that the hall was in use we managed to hang lights, move furniture and prepare the hall for the festival. We knew that we only had the hall until 6.30pm so we needed to prepare another venue for Santa, Kevin Keogh came to our aid and luck would have it that he had just put up his Christmas tree, so Santa was going to meet for photo’s by the fireside in Keogh’s.
To our amazement, the community did not disappoint, they showed up in force to help and support the festival. The school mini companies were the first to arrive and set up their stalls, what a fantastic assortment of gifts and treats they had prepared, DJ Brian Phelan set up on the stage,
followed by Soulful Spirit Choir and then local Dance group CMD Dance wowed the audience with their talents, there was hot chocolate & marshmallows, tea/coffee and Shay Jackman’s famous chocolate chip cookies, the Irish Wheelchair Association sold a beautiful selection of cards & jewellery, you could also visit the wacky photo corner and dress up or get your face painted, you could write your wishes for 2020 and place it in the Callan wishing star run by Fennelly’s, there was lots to choose from and lots to enjoy.
At 6.45pm the call came that Santa had just arrived and was parked in Molly & Son carpark ready to pick up his three VIP guests Alex O’Toole, Zach Stuart & Nicky Baha. Peggy Lyons and members of the Community Links Choir lead the people from the hall (which had to be cleared and set up for Sunday night bingo) down Green Street like the pied pipers to wait for Santa’s arrival. Even though the weather was wet and windy people gathered on The Cross until the sleigh came into sight and the crowd cheered as Santa prepared to switch on the Christmas tree lights, the sleigh parked up and everyone filed into Keoghs of Mill Street to meet Santa at the fireside.
Despite the days challenges everything worked out in the end.
Thank You’s:
Thanks to the huge effort by all the volunteers. We would like to especially thank Pauline Cody, Jackie Jackman, Shay Jackman, Robbie Jackman, Lisa Hogan, Peggy Lyons, Finola, Sinead & Breda Somers, Soulful Spirit Choir, CMD Dance, Lorna Vaughan, Katie Henriques, Isabelle Doheny, Abbie Sweeney, Sinead & Benny Butler, Elaine Bryan, Bosco Bryan, Jimmy Corcoran, Sean Hogan, Joe Kirwan, Billy Saunders, Eamonn O’Shea, Molly Holden, Chelsey Dunphy, Ava Brett, Jasmine Crowe, Laura Phelan & Zoya Skocenova, Bridget O’Brien, Brian & Paddy Phelan, Barry Somers, Lisa Doheny, Sgt Ciaran Sheehan, Eileen Vaughan, Kevin Keogh and Matt Doran. And of course, All the members of Callan People’s Council Christmas edition.
We sincerely hope we have not left anyone out, it is certainly not intentional as we know that to volunteer is to give of your precious time with family and we so appreciate that you have given the community of Callan your time and your efforts. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Nothing will happen unless people in the community come together.
Full-sized photos can also be found on the Callan People’s Council Facebook page.
