Pictures: Visit from Santa brings joy to young patients at CUH 

“Hello Santa, I’m from The Echo,” said your reporter. “How do you do,” replied Mr Claus, “I’m from the North Pole.” 

With barely 10 days to Christmas, Santa took this morning off to spend time with some of the most important people in Ireland, the boys and girls who are being looked after by the staff at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

There was some confusion as to whether Santa actually arrived in Cork by helicopter or not, but maybe that was down to grown-ups not having enough imagination to know that Santa is magic and can do anything.

He seemed to arrive in a Defence Forces MOWAG armoured patrol car, led in by a lone piper and two lions from the Kinsale and District Lions Club, followed by a cavalcade of garda outriders, garda cars, fire trucks, ambulances, coast guard vans, civil defence buses, and tractors.

The convoy had come from Bishopstown garda station, and had only arrived at CUH when a helicopter appeared in the sky overhead.

The noise from the sirens was crazy, and then that was drowned out by the thunderous sound of Rescue 117 coming into land on the CUH helipad, the rotors of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter whipping the air and throwing up every stray leaf on the damp winter ground.

Rescue 117 was decked out in red and white, not only the Cork colours, but also Santa’s favourite livery, and Santa definitely arrived on that, too.

It was all very confusing for the adults, but who are we to question a man of that size who can get down a chimney, even when your house doesn’t have a chimney?

And if he can deliver toys to every good child in the whole wide world in a single night, then he can surely arrive in Cork by armoured car and at the exact same time also by helicopter.

Santa told The Echo that he is a big fan of the Irish Coast Guard and the lifesaving work they do, but he let slip that he’s not crazy about the chopper.

“I’m delighted with the big turnout here at CUH, but I’m not very impressed with the helicopter, it’s too noisy,” he said.

“I will have to go back to my sleigh and Rudolph and the lads on December 24.” 

He had words of praise for the volunteers of the Kinsale and District Lions Club, who, since 2020, have been running a toy appeal in partnership with CUH Charity.

“They do such a great job gathering up all the toys donated by the lovely members of the public, and they package them up, and then the lovely people from the emergency services help to bring the toys here, where the CUH staff help to match the toys up with the boys and girls who are being cared for,” he said.

This year, contracting firm MMD Construction also donated a large number of toys, as did investment bankers JP Morgan and the RTÉ Late Late Toy Show.

Kinsale and District Lions Club member, former garda chief superintendent Con Cadogan, said the appeal had grown year on year.

“This year the amount of toys that came in has been absolutely tremendous, and it’s great for the children here in CUH,” he said.

Former lord mayor of Cork, northside Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fitzgerald, said the morning was a tribute to all who helped to gather donated toys for the children in CUH, and served as a reminder of the great work of the emergency services.

“They sacrifice so much to keep us all safe, and they’ll be on duty all over the Christmas, while the rest of us are enjoying a break,” he said.

Cork GAA star Micheál Aodh Martin was on hand, acting as one of Santa’s helpers, and he said it had been a very impressive turnout by the emergency services and volunteers.

“It’s amazing to see everybody giving of their time to organise such a brilliant day, and we’re heading in to see the kids now and hopefully put a smile on a few faces in the hospital,” he said.

Eight-year-old Odhran Barry met Santa and scored some decent toys, saying Santa had been very kind.

His mom, Angela, said Odhran had got a present “even better than Santa’s” – a Cork jersey signed by Micheál Aodh and Brian Hurley.

In the Puffin Ward, Santa chatted with everyone, and no small person went empty-handed. 

At one point Micheál Aodh had to help a small boy carrying a bag of toys bigger than himself.

One young patient declined to get her photo taken with Santa (“She’s 11, she’s at that age,” said her mother) but she didn’t turn down the toys he gave her.

After CUH, Santa went across town to the Mercy University Hospital, and then on to South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, before heading home to the North Pole, where final preparations are well underway for the busiest night of his year.