17.12.2015
Black Santa 2015 Gets Under Way at St Ann’s, Dawson Street
The 2015 Black Santa Sit Out is now in full swing outside St Ann’s Church on Dawson Street. The annual appeal was officially launched this afternoon (December 17) by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh. They were joined by more than 60 pupils of Kildare Place National School who, directed by their principal Ian Packham, provided festive musical accompaniment.
The Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, with assistance of staff and volunteers from the parish and clerical colleagues will be collecting for the appeal outside the church from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm every day up to and including Christmas Eve.
Adding to the festive spirit on Dawson Street, they will be joined by different choirs each day including Castleknock National School, St James Primary School, Francis Street CBS, St Stephens Church Choir, Catholic University School, Taney Parish Junior School, Alexandra College, Kildare Place National School, Cornucopia Brass Group, Irish Life Choir, Revenue Choir, AIB Choral Society, Permanent TSB Staff Choir, John Scottus School, Loretto College, Seafield Singers, Dublin Male Voice Choir, the Line Up Choir, Steadfast Band and the Brook Singers.
Every cent of the money collected goes to charity and last year over €30,000 was distributed to charities, among them Trust, The Salvation Army, The Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust all of which work with the homeless. Other charities supported include Protestant Aid, Barnardos, St Vincent De Paul, the Laura Lynn Foundation and Solas Project.
The Black Santa sit out is modeled on a similar appeal, which has been run by successive Deans of St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for many years. It became known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by the clergy to keep out the cold. This is the 15th year that the appeal has been held in Dublin and in that time over €500,000 has been raised for local good causes.
While the official launch of the 2015 sit out took place today, collectors have been on the street since Tuesday. The appeal is off to a promising start with over €5,000 donated in the first two days.
Caption – Vicar of St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Canon David Gillespie; the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh; and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson at the launch of the 2015 Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church.