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Black Santa causes a stir – two months early!

Thursday October 14th 2021

Members of a walking tour group were delighted to show their support for Black Santa during his preparatory photoshoot on October 13!

With Christmas just around the corner (really!!!), Belfast’s Black Santa was busy yesterday making vital preparations for the annual charity sit-out. And Dean Stephen’s Forde’s publicity photoshoot attracted quite a lot of attention!

“Have you started already?” one man asked in awe, as he popped some money into Black Santa’s barrel.  Another crossed Writers’ Square looking at his watch in a confused manner, as if that might have some answers!

And members of a walking tour group, visiting the Cathedral Quarter as part of a Belfast International Arts Festival event, were delighted to chance upon one of Belfast most well-known seasonal characters, and to offer some early support for the annual appeal.

The 2021 Sit-out, continuing a great Belfast tradition now in its 45^th year, gets underway on the steps of St Anne’s Cathedral in Donegall Street on Monday December 13, and continues until Christmas Eve.

Applications for grants from the sit-out are currently open, and this year the Dean especially welcomes applications from registered charities working directly with refugee communities settling in Northern Ireland and people with disabilities.

You can download an application form on the Belfast Cathedral website, and closing date for applications is Friday November 26 2021.

And with Christmas, as we have observed, just around the corner, you may wish to get your Black Santa donation in early, and you can do so online at this link.

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