More playgrounds, new houses and somewhere to park his sleigh on Santa’s wish list
Words and photos by Andy Spearman
Drogheda Life had its annual interview with Santa yesterday during his visit to the Connect Family Resource Centre house in Moneymore.
Santa was in good form, and was doing plenty of ho, ho hoing, but I got the impression that he was a bit more subdued than normal.
That soon changed however when a timid little girl peered around the doorway of Santa’s grotto, too shy to enter.
“Ho, Ho ho” said Santa, “who have we got here? Come on in little one, don’t be shy, I’ve got some lovey presents for you in my sack.”
Santa hadn’t come here to talk to me, he had much more important things to do.
Before he was distracted though, Santa did say that he was finding it quite difficult to find a decent place to land his sleigh these days.
“All the roads in Drogheda are far too busy and congested with cars and lorries and buses that the reindeers are too scared to go near them” he said.
Summer and Shane O’Shaughnessy from Mornington with Santa.
“I wish the Council or the government would get that new road built, the PANCR I think they call it, so that the traffic can go on that instead.
“I also wish that they would build a lot of new houses in Drogheda so the little boys and girls won’t have to continue living with their nannies because their Mams and Dads have no houses of their own.
Trying to steer him away from politics, I asked Santa how he was getting on with his preparations for Christmas.
Noah (3) and Mason (7) Mullen with Layla Nason (10), all from Hand Street, with Santa.
“Ho, Ho ho” he said again, “that’s all going fine, my little helpers in the North Pole got a fantastic new machine during the year, It’s called a complicator or something like that.
“No it’s not a complicator, although it seems quite complicated to me, it’s a computer and using that my helpers can keep track of what presents the children want, where they live and whether they’ve been naughty or nice.
“It’s a great yoke altogether because, to let you into a secret, my memory is not the best these days and I have to rely on the helpers. Thank goodness they know how to use the complicator though, I wouldn’t have a clue!”
Casie and Lucas Clarke with their Mam Rosie and Santa.
For over an hour there was steady flow of children through the door of the grotto. Some were shy like the first little girl but all were delighted to see the man in red.
There were a few tears from some of the very little ones who weren’t really sure whether this was the real Santa or not but the bigger children, the five and six year olds knew and weren’t shy about letting Santa know what they wanted for Christmas.
Scooters, electric or traditional push alongs, seem to be on everyone’s wish list this year but Santa wasn’t too sure about them.
Lucy and Reuben Whyte from Scarlett Street had a great chat with Santa yesterday.
“If I bring you one you have to wear a helmet when you ride it and keep away from the busy roads.”
I grabbed a few photos before saying good bye to Santa for another year.
“Oh, just before you go,” he said, “if you’re talking to the Council or the Government will you tell them that there’s not half enough playgrounds for the children in Drogheda.”
On my way out I stopped to wish Cliodhna Cunningham, the Manager of the Connect FRC, a Happy Christmas.
“What would you like for Christmas yourself?” I enquired. “A new community Centre” she replied.
“Alright” I said, “I’ll put it on my wish list from the Council.”
Happy Christmas everyone.
