21.01.2022
Dublin’s Black Santa Sit Out yields record sum
2021 was a bumper year for Dublin’s Black Santa Sit Out. Despite continuing pandemic restrictions, the appeal at St Ann’s Church, Dawson St, raised a record €45,000 for local good causes.
The appeal got off to a flying start when energy company Energia got in touch with an offer of €10,000 as part of their charitable donations in lieu of Christmas events for staff which had to be cancelled. The company also donated €10,000 to the Black Santa Appeal in Belfast.
Arthur Vincent of St Ann’s said the parish was delighted at the success of this Christmas’s appeal against all the odds. “This has been our best year ever. With the continuing effects of the pandemic, we had not set our hopes very high. Obviously the donation from Energia was a great boost but there were many other generous donations. There are people who give to Black Santa every year because they know every cent goes to the charities. This amount speaks very highly of people’s generosity,” he commented.
Last Christmas’s appeal was the 21st annual Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church in Dublin. It was officially launched by Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland and Archbishop Michael Jackson. They were joined by priest in charge the Revd Terry Lilburn and St Ann’s caretaker, Fred Deane, as well as four students from Alexandra College choir who quietly sang ‘Silent Night’ accompanied by the harp.
The charities supported by Black Santa include include the Salvation Army, the Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust, all of which work with homeless people and also Protestant Aid, Barnardo’s, St Vincent De Paul, the Laura Lynn Foundation and the Solas Project.
The funds raised will be distributed to the charities during a special service at St Ann’s on Sunday February 13 when the preacher will be the Dean of Belfast, the Very Revd Stephen Forde. The Dublin Black Santa Sit Out is modelled on a similar sit out which takes place at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast every year. The name ‘Black Santa’ is derived from the heavy clerical cloaks worn to keep out the cold in the run up to Christmas.