11.01.2016
Black Santa Sit Out Brings in Record Sum for Charities
The 2015 Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, has yielded a record breaking sum for charity. A total of €41,400, the largest amount in the Dublin appeal’s 15 year history, was collected during the sit out which took place on the street outside the Dublin city centre church in the days running up to Christmas.
Every cent donated goes directly to the charities involved. Cheques will be distributed at a special service in St Ann’s on Sunday February 7 at 11.00 am. The preacher will be the Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven David Pierpoint.
The Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon David Gillespie, has paid tribute to all who donated, collected, counted and offered hospitality during the appeal.
Canon Gillespie and his team of volunteers from the parish as well as other clergy were joined each day by a number of choirs 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.
Among the charities that will benefit from the appeal are Trust, the Salvation Army, the Simon Community , the Peter McVerry Trust, 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.
Photo 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 with the choir of Kildare Place School.