The Black Santa Appeal was recently launched at St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Nenagh. Dressed in Black Santa attire are Rev Paul Fitzpatrick (COI), Fr Rexon Chullickal (RC) and Dean Rod Smyth (COI), who are alongside Geraldine Collins (the Neonatal Unit) and Pat Dunlea (Friends of Nenagh Hospital). Also present are the music entertainers (Acoustic Reign and Nenagh Ormond Brass Band), Philly Ryan, Jack Bayly and recently appointed Nenagh Garda Superintendent Andrew Lacey. Photo: Bridget Delaney

Black Santa comes to Nenagh - again!

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Forty-four years ago this Christmas, the then Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev’d Sammy Crooks held a sit-out for charity outside his Cathedral. To keep out the cold, he wore an Anglican black cloak. The response to his appeal was so good that the local newspaper nicknamed him ‘The Black Santa,’ because of his black cloak.

This Christmas a group of local clergy - the Very Rev’d Rod Smyth, Rev’d Paul Fitzpatrick, Fr Des Hillery, Fr Rexon and Fr Michael, the Archdeacon of Kilaloe, the Ven Terry Mirchell and the Rev’d Stephen Foster, Cloughjordan Methodist Church - will hold a Black Santa sit-out for charity at the Market Cross, Nenagh.

This will be the second year of this sit-out for charity. Last year, most of us didn’t think for one minute that we would still be in the grip of a global pandemic – but here we are! The charities being supported this year are the UCL neo-natal ICU and the Friends of Nenagh Hospital. Both very worthy charities.

Please look out for the clergy in their trade-mark black cloaks and give generously. They will be collecting on Tuesday, December 21; Wednesday, December 22, and Thursday, December 23 from 2pm-5pm.

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