The Great Santa Sleigh Robbery

Jump around!

t’s understandable, of course, that good Saint Nicholas would be tempted by a quick Kilmacanogue overnight stay.

Sure, hasn’t the place got it all, nestled under the Great Sugar Loaf mountain with their farmers’ markets, Avoca, that award-winning public house, buckets of history and an endless supply of little helpers.

That’s the thing about Kilmacanogue. Whenever anyone’s in need, this close-knit community pulls together.

A recent example being Glencormac United FC and Liverpool FC fan Paddy ‘Wacks’ Byrne, whose life changed in March 2019 after he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. The good people of Kilmacanogue instantly rallied around, there not only for Wacks but for his parents, Paddy Snr and Una, too. Also making his life livable and loveable once again was Irish Motor Neuron Disease, who supplied Wacks with a motorised wheelchair and a wheelchair-accessible van.

Which is why the Byrne family and their friends at Glencormac United FC gang are hosting a different kind of fundraiser for December, as a way of saying thank you to IMND.

Turns out, Santa’s sleigh has gone missing. And suspect no.1 is the very bould Paddy Snr, a local welder of some repute. Rumour has it, the man was inspired by a recent family trip to Liverpool FC’s home turf and he’s now trying to build a life-size replica of Anfield in his back garden. And he needs as much scrap metal as he can find.

With no sign of his, eh, wheels, Santa has found himself stranded 2,161 miles from home. And with Christmas just around the corner, the man needs to get those presents wrapped and loaded.

Which is what Kilmacanogue’s sponsored walk is all about, getting the Man In Red home whilst also raising money for Irish Motor Neuron Disease. It’s actually 3,478km to Lapland, and with 900km already covered by March’s cancelled race night fundraiser in Pluck’s, Santa’s already well on his way. He just needs a little help from his friends.

You can throw a few shekels into Santa’s hat here. In the meantime, we get the lowdown from the man himself on feeling that Christmas spirit in Kilmacanogue…

Once again, you can help Santa make his way back to Lapland with spreading a little festive cheer right here. Santa arse kick pic by Stuart Carrick.