Santa and Jamie Heaslip help boys and girls switch Christmas lights on at Temple Street Hospital

The crowds were entertained by the Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Choir and Santa Claus, who took time out of his busy schedule to visit CHI on Temple Street to meet all of the children and turn on the Christmas lights.

Mr Claus, who made sure to park his sleigh outside, said it was “a long way from the North Pole but that it was brilliant to be back in Dublin” as he greeted every child waiting outside the hospital.

The crowds cheered as the Christmas lights were turned on by patient of honour, Kayleigh, who was assisted by Children’s Health Foundation Ambassador, Jamie Heaslip.

Kayleigh from Ballymun told the Irish Independent that “she flew over to the hospital” with her granny in a taxi, and with all going well she’s hoping for Santa to bring her “an iPhone 11 and a giant squishmallow in her stocking”.

She was discharged from the hospital on Monday after being on a surgical ward and will thankfully be able to stay home for Christmas.

Leinster and Ireland star Jamie Heaslip told the Irish Independent that Kayleigh informed him that “she didn’t need any practice and knew how to run the show”.

“I was supporting her in her role today,” he said.

“Turning on the lights with Santa at a place like Temple Street Hospital gives a bit of light and enjoyment here to the kids in hospital; it’s always nice to kind of see the joy in their eyes when they turn up.

“It’s always important to highlight the great work that all our medical staff in Ireland, the work that the staff do here is unbelievable.

“The kids are always amazingly positive, given the tough challenges that they face, and for the parents who are around you can see the look in their eyes.

“I’m not saying it resonates with me as thank God I’ve never had to go through a challenge like that with my children but you can definitely understand that look that they give you and then the amazing work the staff do to kind of ease whatever anxiety they have around their children being here and trying to make it as homely as possible,” Jamie said.

Mr Heaslip said he spoke to some parents at the hospital from Limerick who have two children back home and who are taking shifts to come up and mind their child.

“There’s a lot of hardship that goes on around that, and the staff here are trying to do everything they can to make it as easy as possible for the kids to feel at home,” he said.

On average around 150 children will spend this Christmas day at CHI hospitals, making Santa’s visit all the more special.

Chief Executive at Children’s Health Ireland Eilísh Hardiman said the hospital ensures to schedule Christmas visits from Santa and on Christmas day, “all the kids will get toys on the ward, and we’ll have a little sing song,” she said.

“Santa visited Crumlin yesterday and turned on the lights, so he has to get around as much as possible.

“About 150 would be in the hospital on Christmas day across the four hospitals, and any child that can will get home.

“We tell the children that Santa comes here, and it doesn’t matter if they’re in hospital, which is very important and, on the day, all the staff will dress up and lots of people will come in to say hello to the children.

“Danny [O’Donoghue] from the Script comes in here every year and goes around with Santa to lead the sing-along.”

One mother Úna who was standing outside Temple Street Hospital with her entire family waiting for Santa to come with her son Noah comes all the way from Limerick to the hospital in Dublin who has been in and out since July.

“Noah has just been discharged, we’re usually in Crumlin,” she said.

“Since July we’ve been in there on and off, he’s looking for an ice cream cart off Santa and he’s really looking forward to the lights now.

“It’s nice being here [for this], the staff are amazing, and it makes it feel special for the kids.”

You can learn more about how Children’s Health Foundation support sick children here.