Christmas On The Aran Islands, Ireland 1984

A big welcome for Santa and Christmas carols from the children of Inis Oírr the smallest of the Aran Islands.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster Máirtín Davy Ó Coisdealbha introduces a special Christmas show for children from studio two in the station’s headquarters in Casla, Connemara, County Galway.

Máirtín’s very special guest is Santa Claus who will be visiting Inis Oírr (Inisheer), the smallest of the Aran Islands, the following morning. Santa is looking forward to seeing the children and hopes they will meet him at the airstrip when he arrives by plane.

As Santa’s special flight approaches Inis Oirr the children are in school when they hear a plan approaching. They take a break from drawing Christmas pictures and make a dash to the landing strip. The meet Máirtín who prepares them for Santa’s arrival.

He asks them what sort of man they think Santa is and one boy says

Fear mór iontach ramhar.

Máirtín jokes that Santa is not as big as Derek Davis. Six year old MacDara Ó Conaola tells Máirtín he wants Santa to bring him a spaceship for Christmas.

Santa’s plane arrives and the children clamour to shake hands with him. Santa, who admits to being 105 years old, has a basket full of presents, but hands out the ones for the boys first, much to the disappointment of the girls.

The children also attend a Christmas mass during which they sing carols. Back at home, two children light a candle and leave it in the window, a sign of welcome for anyone who might be passing by on Christmas Eve.

One of the stars of the report is the six year old MacDara Ó Conaola sporting a fringe and hoping Santa will bring him a spaceship. MacDara is now a renowned traditional singer although we don’t know if he ever did get the spaceship.

This episode of ‘Davis at Large’ was broadcast in 21 December 1984. The presenter is Derek Davis.