FOR the past 24 years, the Noonan family from Templeglantine have been up and down ladders and plugging things in long before the evenings start closing in preparation for a fundraising event that Christmas lovers across Limerick look forward to each year.
Thousands of LEDs, glowing elves, inflatable Santas, and wobbly happy snow characters appear every year, attracting scores of people who come from far and wide to leave donations in buckets and, on specific dates, to even meet Santa himself.
Last year alone, the Templeglantine bright and festive welcome raised almost €30,000 thanks to the hard work of the Noonan family and to the generosity of the people who came to see the spectacle.
Over the years, more than €240,000 has been raised and, even through the difficult Covid-19 lockdown, the Noonans put their shining lights online to shine some cheer in the pandemic gloom.
Tony Noonan, the man behind the lights, is very modest about what the yearly display has achieved, telling the Limerick Post that “it’s not me, it’s thanks to all the people who come and donate so generously”.
This year, the switch will be flipped on the much-anticipated light-up on November 24, when Santa himself will make one of his first appearances of the season to greet families from all across the Mid West who turn out to see the Noonan lights.
Charities being supported this year include Milfiord Care Centre, Limerick Suicide Watch, cancer charity Recovery Haven, and Slí Eile, which offers services to people with mental health difficulties.
