WATCH: 'Monster' Christmas tree stands tall in Limerick after army was drafted in to lift it...but failed!

PARISHIONERS put their hands together in prayer this Friday morning as a ‘monster’ Christmas tree they were attempting to position outside their local church was having trouble getting off the ground.

The situation got so dire that even the army had to be drafted in to help!

It was all systems go outside St Joseph's Church on O’Connell avenue in Limerick city shortly after 9am to get the huge 25-foot Christmas tree in the upright position.

Due to the sheer height of the tree, the army from the nearby Sarsfield Barracks were enlisted to roll up their sleeves and give a hand.

Their attempts were unsuccessful, however, as the stubborn tree refused to budge.

At one stage the scenes outside the church were akin to a game of tug-of-war between the big army men and the gigantic tree. 

Around 20 soldiers from the barracks were forced to devise a new plan to stand up the tree which is roughly the height of five queen-sized mattresses. 

As the locals and the army searched for a solution to this Christmas conundrum, friends of the parish at NCH Cranes, Billy and Tom, agreed to help, in the name of saving Christmas at the church!

The Limerick-based NCH Crane Hire and some more local volunteers added their weight behind the endeavour and helped hoist the tree into position with the industrial crane.

Located in the city centre, St Joseph’s Church is a place of worship for many from the city centre and the Mount Kenneth and Ballinacurra areas.  

Fr Liam Enright is the parish priest, and has been for the last three years. He says that in past years, the only way to get the Christmas tree up in the church yard was “brute force and loads of bodies”.

“This tree was just too heavy to stay upright by itself - it is a monster of a tree!,” Fr Enright pointed out.

“I thought it was going to be more simple than what it was," he mused. "In years previous, it was always a bit of a struggle to get it up in the yard, but we managed.

“This is the biggest sized tree we have ever had, and we sourced it from Killarney this year.”

The army have always been a great help to those at St Joseph's Church when needed. “Because Sarsfield Barracks is located within our parish, the army have always been involved in various ceremonies,” added Fr Enright.

“The army is very much involved in helping out in the parish and have previously put up the crib. They managed to decorate the tree before it was even put up - they always obligingly helped out when called upon. 

“Thanks to everyone who took the time to help today and making sure everyone was safe!”

A Christmas miracle to warm Limerick hearts!