After his long trip across the globe last night, Santa is back at base in the North Pole enjoying a cup of cocoa with his feet up.
Unwinding before he has a nice big sleep, Santa had time for a quick chat with Donegal Daily!
Santa revealed his favourite place in Donegal, what was at the top of children’s lists this year, and his hopes for next year.
This is Santa’s Donegal…
1) What is your favourite place in Donegal and why?
Donegal is a magical place, I couldn’t pick just one! However, the lights at Carrickfinn Airport are very helpful for guiding my sleigh, and I can definitely see why it’s been voted one of the most scenic landings in the world.
Fanad Head lighthouse is also a great guide for my sleigh and lets me know that I’ve arrived in north Donegal.
(2) Who is the one person that you look up to and why?
Mrs Claus, she keeps me organised and helps keep me on track during my busy season.
(3) What’s your happiest memory in Donegal?
Each year I get to create new happy memories in Donegal by visiting all of the good boys and girls just before Christmas. It’s lovely seeing different generations who I delivered presents to all those years ago coming to see me again with their kids.
(4) What’s your favourite thing about Donegal?
The hospitality! Donegal people always leave out the nicest snacks for me and the most delicious treats for the reindeer. They all have clean chimneys as well which keeps my suit nice and bright!
(5) What is your favourite Donegal bar?
I feel very much at home at the North Pole Bar, Clonmany.
(6) What’s the toughest part of job?
There’s quite a few challenges I face on the job! The biggest one is when boys and girls aren’t asleep when I arrive, so it’s very important that they go to sleep when their parents ask them to.
It’s also difficult getting all of the toys to fit on the sleigh, but we manage! My schedule is also very difficult to keep, so I have to be quick!
(7) What’s your favourite Christmas day outfit?
I always keep on my red suit so as if I get lost in the snow of the North Pole I’ll stick out like Rudolph’s red nose!
(8) What do you prefer to be called?
I have many different names that children across the world call me. In Donegal I’m usually known as Santa or Daidí na Nollag. Mrs Claus also has a few of her own choice names for me!
(9) What are your favourite animals that you see during your trips to Donegal?
My reindeer enjoy visiting their ‘deer’ cousins at Glenveagh National Park, and we always stop by Donegal Donkey Sanctuary to share some of the reindeers’ treats with the donkeys.
(10) Mince pie or cookies?
One of each please!
(11) What’s your favourite thing to watch on television?
It’s a yearly ritual for all of the elves to join me around a toasty fire with hot chocolate to watch the Late Late Toy Show. We love seeing the children sample some of the toys that find their way under the tree on Christmas day.
(12) What do you do on Christmas day?
When I get back to the North Pole, I have a warm cup of cocoa and fall into a great big sleep, happy in the knowledge that all of the children in the world will be waking up to see the wonderful gifts I’ve left them.
(13) What do Donegal kids ask for?
There has been a huge increase in requests for light sabers in Donegal! BB-8 action figures are also in high demand this year.
(14) If you had a million euro to improve something in Donegal what would it be?
I’d put a light on top of Errigal as the sleigh nearly gets caught on it every year!
(15) What are your hopes for the next year?
I hope that people are good to each other and help each other in any way they can.
I hope that everyone is happy and healthy in 2018, and that my naughty list is slightly shorter next year!
Happy Christmas everyone.
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