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Santa Claus is coming to Moville again

Posted Friday, November 2, 2007

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Santa in Moville

One of what I thought was the Great Institutions in Moville, when Santa arrives in Moville and gives out gifts to the children of Moville, will be taking place again this year.

I'm told it will take place on December 9th.

Great Occasions

It's one of the big days and great occasions on the Moville calendar.

Virtually the whole town will be there to see Santa arrive and to watch him giving out his gifts - and particularly to see the faces of the children.

More Recent Than I Thought

As I said at the beginning I thought that it was one of the great long standing institutions of the town but it seems that it has only been going on for 9 years.

As I have been here for 5 years, I must have seen 5 out of the 8 that have taken place.

Fantastic Job

The organisers have done a fantastic job here.

It runs like clockwork (or seems to do from the outside).

The only occasion that I can remember when it didn't was 3 or 4 years ago.

To heighten the sense of drama Santa always arrives by Fire Engine.

I don't think that there is any historical precedence for this but it doesn't matter.

Big Wait

That year the crowds who were assembled in the square had to wait for about 2 hours for the arrival of Santa.

The reason was that there had been a fire in Carndonagh and the fire engine had been called out (the people of Carn weren't trying to scupper our great night were they?).

But it all went well in the end and was just as good as the other years.

Moville Coming Back

I think that there was a period when Moville had given up the ghost in terms of organising things like that but there have been a lot of good things that have started up over the last 10 to 15 years.

I can think of the highly successful St. Patrick's Day parade and this year's highly successful Sports and Fun Day run by the Moville GAA which was widely enjoyed.

There's also the Moville Summer Festival and the Traditional Music Festival in February.

Special Night

But there's something special about Santa's Grotto in December.

There's an extra special atmosphere at it.

So, congratulations to the Committee mebers who give their time to make it a great success.

Next Week

I'm told that there is a Committee meeting next week at 8pm in the Hall for anyone who wants to help out on this special occasion.

I was asked if I could get some extra publicity for it.

"Why do you want extra publicity for it? Do you want hundreds of children to come down from Carn, Buncrana and even Derry to get their goody bags too at the Grotto?"

I think that point was taken. Everyone in Moville knows about it anyway.

I was going to go to the meeting on Tuesday but won't be able to make it now.

Services Offered

It seems that both Highland Radio and Inishowen Community radio DJs have offered their services for the big event and well done to them.

It would be great if they had an outside broadcast unit at it and had it live on their radio stations for those who can't get out or can't get to Moville.

New Year's Eve

It seems that the Christmas Tree Committe are also in charge of New Year's Eve as well.

A bit more could be done with that I think.

Perhaps one of the DJs could do the Christmas one and the other could do New Year's Eve.

Candlelight Procession

It would be nice to see a candlelight procession perhaps organised by the schools or churches in the area just before the New Year comes in.

They could come from their different churches or schools and join up together in a show of unity with the dawn of the New Year.

Perhaps they could each bring one of the numbers in the year 2008 to the party and ceremoniously hand it over when they arrive.

Sponsorship

Also, it might be worth getting some sponsorship, perhaps for the Radio Stations who could have their banners on the stage on Santa's Grotto night.

It might even be worth approaching the Christmas Shop in the Foyleside in Derry for sponsorship.

However, I hestitate to make too many suggestions to a Committee who have turned the day into one of the great events in Moville's Calendar.

Hotels Bearing Gifts

I'm looking forward to this year's grotto already - and hoping that the Carlton Hotel in Redcastle (or someone else) donate their canteens of mulled wine again.

I will make one suggestion to the Committee though.

If the Carlton do, could you keep some of it for New Year's Eve too?

If they could see their way to some whiskey too that would be even better.