Mooney’s mad about festivities but admits to getting starry-eyed at Gaybo… not Santa
IT’S his one and only memory of going to see Santa Claus as a kid. But Derek Mooney doesn’t remember much about the big man in red, just who was standing in front of him in the queue.
‘It was when Brown Thomas was Switzers,’ he recalls.
‘I was about nine and there in front of us queuing was Gay Byrne and Kathleen Watkins and their two kids.
‘I couldn’t get over it. He was a big star and there he was beside us, acting like a normal person!
‘I confess I don’t remember anything about Santa, just Gay.
‘But, like for every other kid, it was the best time of the year and as an adult, I still remember the magic.’
Fast forward and Mooney is still seeing Santa at Christmas, only now it’s in his radio studio in Donnybrook where he hosts the man himself every Christmas Eve.
Now in its 11th year, Mooney with Santa has already received a sackful of letters for his very special guest from children all over the country.
And Mr Claus will, as usual, take time out of his busy schedule at 1pm to talk to the children of Ireland before leaving for his rounds at 6pm sharp on Christmas Eve.
‘It’s a lovely show and one I look forward to for all sorts of reasons,’ says Mooney. ‘Not least because of the joy and wonder in the kids’ voices when they’re talking to Santa but also because it brings back memories of your own childhood and you remember the incredible way that Christmas Eve made you feel.’
On the day itself, Santawill read out letters from all over Ireland and will also be taking calls from children. Many will be entertaining him with poetry, songs and some traditional music.
For his part, Santa speaks Irish, French and Polish so children from all communities will have a chance to have a chat with the man himself.
‘It’s great the way he knows who everybody is, where they’re from and what their traditions are,’ says Mooney.
‘Like the fact that the Polish people living here don’t have turkey on Christmas Day but have carp on Christmas Eve.
‘And Santa never forgets about the boys and girls in the Gaeltacht either.’
Children are encouraged to only ask for one thing from Santa as he has such a lot of children to visit. Mooney says that inevitably electronics make their way on to the present lists.
‘Games and screens are probably the biggest thing asked for over the past 11 years,’ he says.
‘But at least with our slot on Christmas Eve, it’s a chance to get away from the screen for an hour or two.
‘I remember myself as a boy listening to Santa on the radio – it’s special.’
‘There he was in the queue... acting normal’