Christmas in on a high as Santa lights Killavullen
LAST Sunday Killavullen was proudly lit up by Santa Claus to the delight of the large gathered crowd and the hard working, dedicated committee which has ensured this event is a highlight in the Killavullen Christmas Calendar.
Before the lights were lit Santa revealed that he tethered his sleigh and reindeer in Peter’s Hill and thanked the garda patrol car who brought him quickly to the village with sirens blaring and lights flashing.
Once the lights were lit the festivities continued in Killavullen Community Centre where refreshments were served to young and old.
Children had the chance to be creative with a Christmas arts and craft station and post their letter to Santa, while friends and neighbours had the chance to sit and chat.
On the night raffle tickets were sold for an array of prizes.
Remembrance ribbons were made available to those who wished to place the name of loved ones on a special memory tree.
Mass on Christmas Day in Killavullen Church will be dedicated to these people whom we hold dear every day, but in a special way at Christmas time. Killavullen Christmas decorations were sold, this year’s theme was a snowman.
These are still available to be bought, please contact (086)8071807 if you wish to get your hands on one!
Santa once again had time to meet and greet families in a beautiful grotto. Santa had a special message for all the children he met ~ Go to bed early on Christmas Eve and don’t get up too early on Christmas morning!
He also told the children that the present he will be bringing for them is the present which he thinks is perfect for them and it may not be exactly what they want but Santa knows best!
The evening was a huge success and a credit to the Community Spirit and pride which is very evident in our Parish.
This was the seventh year of Lighting Up Killavullen. What started as a bit of a “do you know what we should do at Christmas?” skit has turned out to be a noteworthy annual date in the local calendars and one stirs up an interest in young and old alike!
Before the countdown to the turning on of the lights began committee member Roseanna Looney spoke to the crowd reminding them of the humble beginning of the bringing Santa to Killavullen when he sat in Roche’s Archway and met the children with Mrs Claus before being whisked off to his awaiting sleigh to the big event which it now is in the Community Centre.
She thanked the staff of both schools in the
Parish for their support over the years and to Ballygown NS for the use of their wonderful sound system which echoed Christmas music all over the village.
Praise was given to Fr Condon, Kevin Luddy, Denis Collins and Con Lucey for the work they did on our most beautiful and majestic Church Christmas Tree.
She also praised how well the village looks thanks to the dedication of Jim O’Brien, Denis Linehan and Christopher Canavan.
We are very lucky to have them and their pride in what they do to keep the village as welcoming as they do.
Killavullen could not be lit up without the support and understanding of the homeowners on the street who are more than obliging as the lights are put up and taken down.
A word of thanks was extended to the following who allow the lights to be plugged into their homes and make Killavullen a Christmas Spectacle year after year: Rita McCarthy, Kate O’Callaghan, Des & Louise Browne, Magner’s Bar, Nora Roche, The Haven Bar and Fr Hegarty.
A word of thanks went to all those who helped on the night, providing refreshments, serving them and cleaning up afterwards, to those who helped sell the tickets and decorations and those who organised the remembrance ribbons.
The Committee also thanked David Brosnan for creating the cherished Killavullen Christmas Decoration and to Neasa Howard for her help decorating them and for her creativity organising the Arts and Crafts for the children, no easy task!
Extra spot prizes were donated on the night and praise goes to KJR Civil Engineering, Mary Notter, Dairygold and O’ Sullivan’s Pharmacy for their kind and generous donations.
The event is but a few hours long, but plenty hours of work are put into making it a success behind the scenes.
Thanks was also expressed on the night to the following for all they do to make the night the wonderful spectacle that it is:
Marie and Tommy Cremin and family, Rose and Paddy Looney and family, Nicky & Ryan Roche, Mick and Sean Taylor, Paul Stafford, Box (Alan Brennan) Gillian Forde and to Nora Roche for feeding the troops on the cold nights as they worked to put up the lights.
Finally Roseanna paid tribute to all those we have loved and lost, those who we wish were around us every day, but especially at Christmas time and in particular those we have lost in the last year.
Killavullen is a sight to behold and well worth a drive to see this Christmas!