Third-time lucky for Limerick parish community as Christmas tree towers up 30 foot

IT’S a case of third time lucky for members of a city centre parish, as their church’s Christmas tree has this year been put up with no problems.

Over the last two years, volunteers at St Joseph’s Church in O’Connell Avenue have had major trouble ensuring their festive tree stood tall.

Two years ago, they had to rope in volunteers from the army to ensure the tree stood tall.

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And last year, they were thankful for local heroes, who stopped the tree from falling in the wake of extreme weather.

This Christmas though, it is so far so good - as the tree proudly towers up more than 30 feet in front of the church.
“Thanks be to God, it’s in place,” confirmed parish administrator Canon Derek Leonard.

“It’s good we have got a fine tree. This year, we organised to get some builders in to dig a hole, so there will be no problem about safety with the tree.”

Canon Leonard, who has been in the parish since July, said: “What I love about being here is it is a big team effort. I’m not a lone ranger. There is a big community effort from the young and the old. People in this parish take great pride in the tree.”

It is nice too, the priest said, because it is a shining beacon, and it allows people to really reflect on the festive season.

Pictured below: The Nativity crib inside St Joseph's Church, as used in the film Angela's Christmas, based on Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes (Picture: Adrian Butler)

“It’s bringing a bit of light into a dark street outside, and a reminder among the busy-ness of the partying, shopping, exams and all that kind of stuff, that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus,” he said.

“At Christmas-time, having the big tree up there, gets people to stop and think about what Christmas is all about.

Whether they attend Mass here every Sunday, or if they only pop in now and then, it might be an opportunity for them to call in, visit the church and say hello,” he concluded.