A dream come true for children attending Dublin hospitals as they take a trip to meet Santa Claus in Lapland.
Providing much needed respite from the rigorous medical treatment they are undergoing, over 100 children visit Santa Claus in Lapland in the north of Finland. All of the children are patients in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin, the Children's Hospital, Temple Street and the National Children’s Hospital, Harcourt Street. The £50,000 dream come true day trip is organised by United Travel.
Although Santa lives in the North Pole, even during his busiest time of the year he visits a village in Lapland to collect his post. While there, he takes the opportunity to meet the children and find out what they want for Christmas.
One boy is hoping for a bike and a surprise from Santa. Another boy, Peter, says he will be leaving out a bottle of Guinness and a sandwich for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Nurse with the National Children's Hospital Mary Hanratty is delighted the children are getting a well earned break from the hospital routine to visit Santa in Lapland,
It’s the chance of a lifetime, it’s a dream for them.
Along with seeing Santa the children also get to meet his reindeer and travel on a sleigh. Before the children return to Ireland, Santa gives a very special message for everyone at home,
All the boys and girls in Ireland I wish you a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 December 1995. The reporter is Michael O’Kane.
