'I just love Christmas': Cork man has been lighting up village for 45 years 

It takes a man to light up a village. And that man in Union Hall is Willie O’Donovan, who has been illuminating the West Cork village at Christmas for the past 45 years.

“Has it really been that long?” asks Willie.

It sure has.

Now Willie has been honoured for his efforts at the national Volunteer Ireland Awards.

“I was dumb-founded,” he says of being given the Arts, Culture and Festivals award earlier this month.

“It was wonderful to be recognised. I never expected it.

“We had our official ‘switch on’ of the lights on the Saturday evening before, and we had to be in Dublin for the awards ceremony next day.”

His helpers were recognised too.

“Accepting the award, I had to acknowledge my co-workers. We are a great team in Union Hall,” says Willie. “And we love being part of a small community like the beautiful Union Hall.”

Willie’s quest to spread light, joy, and happiness at the most wonderful time of the year nearly didn’t happen. Miracles do happen at Christmas though.

“My wife Diana and I were on holidays in America,” recalls Willie. “And of course the Yanks are into their lights and decorations inside and outside their homes, especially during Thanksgiving.

“Diana and I were shopping one day, and we saw a magnificent crib with life-size nativity figures in a shop window. We wondered could we buy them, thinking they’d be lovely at home. That time, back in the 1970s, you could bring stuff on the planes.”

Why would he go to all that trouble?

“I am a Christmas fanatic,” says Willie. “I always have been. I love Christmas completely.”

He and Diana bought the life-size nativity figures, but Willie was stopped at customs at Shannon Airport.

‘What have you in the box?’ he was asked. ‘The Blessed Virgin Mary,’ Willie replied.

‘Pull the other leg,’ said the customs officer, ordering him to open the box.

“I opened the box,” says Willie. Lo and behold, the Virgin Mary emerged from it. The customs officer said ‘Keep going’, so we did.

Off he went with Diana home to Union Hall with the life-size crib figures.

“I also bought some lights and decorations as well while we were on holidays,” says Willie. “And that is how it all started. We lit up our own garden. There was a great response to it.”

Then it snowballed.

“I just love Christmas,” says Willie. “Seeing people get so much joy out of visiting our home and garden is wonderful. And over the years, homes from one end of the village to the other are all lit up. The whole parish are involved.

“It is so wonderful to think we can do all this and raise money for charity as well. The whole village is lit up here at Union Hall.”

Over the years, Willie’s lights project has raised vital funds for the Irish Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Air Ambulance, SVP, Skibbereen Community Hospital, Motor Neurone Disease, the Children’s ward in CUH, and smaller local charities. This year’s beneficiaries were Skibbereen Community Hospital and Cancer Connect.

“People visiting our garden during the festive season donate generously to the charity boxes we have at the gate,” says Willie. “To date, we have raised over €50,000. There are many anonymous donations also.”

The Irish Heart Foundation is a cause close to Willie’s own heart, isn’t it?

“Yes, I had a triple bypass 16 years ago,” he says. “The problem with my heart was spotted by my GP.”

Another little miracle...

“I picked up quite soon after the operation,” says Willie, who lives a charmed life. “We opened up the garden soon after, and the first year we donated the proceeds to the Irish Heart Foundation.”

Growing up, Willie always loved Christmas.

“We were lucky,” he says. “There was a sock on the mantlepiece of the fireplace at Christmas time at home. Inside, there would be apples, oranges and bananas!”

When does Willie start his own preparations for Christmas?

“In October,” says Willie. “When I asked a few people in the village if it would be nice to light up our village, there was lots of interest. There are lights along the houses from one end of the village to the other, as well as lit-up Christmas trees.”

Willie doesn’t do things by halves.

“We ordered 120 Christmas trees this year,” he says. “When we had our official ‘switch on’ on December 7, the village was thronged with people.”

His own house and garden, festooned with twinkling flashing lights and seasonal decorations, are spectacular.

What about the electricity bill?

“I wouldn’t like to tell you about that,” says Willie.

“Yes, Diana and I foot the electricity bill over Christmas for our home and garden. I wouldn’t like to tell you what our ESB bill is in January!”

However, Wille and Diana, leading the way, believe in spreading the joy.

“Every cent that comes in from visitors to our home goes to charity,” says Willie. “I can tell you that we use hundreds and thousands of light-bulbs every year.”

This year, Willie had to leave at 7am on the Sunday morning for Dublin to attend the Volunteer Ireland Awards at the Clayton Hotel Blanchardstown.

““I was among 250 people nominated for the award. When I was shortlisted, I was very surprised,” he says.

It was a big day.

“It certainly was!” says Willie. “I don’t like the limelight!

“I am good with my hands but I’m not good at speaking. It’s not my thing.”

I beg to differ. Especially when Willie is speaking about his 45-year passion.

“We had a lovely meal after the reception,” says Willie. “Throughout the meal, presentations were made to the people who won.”

Willie found his voice when it was announced he was the winner in his category.

“I couldn’t believe it!” he says. “I couldn’t take all the credit. All the volunteers who help make the village so special at Christmas had to be acknowledged.

“It was great to have our effort recognised, especially at national level.”

Willie lets me into a little secret.

“The truth is, I enjoy every minute of it,” he says. “I love making our small, beautiful village into a Christmas wonderland. Receiving badly needed funds for deserving charities make me and my co-workers really happy.”

They are all in it together.

“Diana, and everyone in the village, gives up their time and effort each year,” says Willie. “It is wonderful to see.”

Diana doesn’t like the limelight either, but her daughter Maeve says: “Mam is really supportive. She is behind dad all the way, but works away behind the scenes.”

She knows all about the mettle of the man who can light up a village.

“I think that’s why she fell in love with him!” says Maeve.

Maeve knows all about her dad’s mettle.

“For dad, nothing is a problem,” she says. “The best word to describe him is positive. He has a solution to everything.”

Willie is a people person.

“He works so well with people,” says Maeve. “He works with a lot of committees, and he gets things done. If ever any of us woke up in a bad mood, he’d say, ‘Who ate your bun?’ He always had a way of cheering up people.”

Willie, a child at heart, is always up at the dawn, especially at Christmas.

“He wanted to see our faces when Santa arrived!” says Maeve.

There are no Christmas Grinches in the O’Donovan family.

“Dad’s Christmas spirit is infectious,” says Maeve. “Me and my siblings, Annette, and Liam, we all love Christmas.”

Willie’s family, including his nine grandchildren, are delighted that he won the award.

“He deserves it,” says Maeve. “We are delighted for him.”

Willie simply says: “I love my parish, I love my small community and being part of it. I love that the kids in the parish come and see the Christmas lights here before they go home to bed.

“I realised the power of the holiday spirit when people came from all over to see our crib when we brought the nativity figures home from the States.”

The rest is history.

Will Willie, young at heart, continue to light up his home and village?

“I won’t tell you my age,” says Willie. “But I’m not young! We’ll keep going as long as we can.”

His award won’t stay in the background at his home. Diana will see to that. She will put it in the limelight.