New Longford children’s book to raise funds for charity

The Operation Blue Light Santa team is back for a third consecutive year - and with the third in the Blue Light Santa series of children’s books: Operation Blue Light Heroes.

This year’s book was penned by journalist Jessica Thompson, author of the previous two books, Operation Blue Santa (2021) and Operation Blue Nose Reindeer (2022). The story is beautifully illustrated by Pat Taaffe.

Annually, through light-hearted storytelling, the Operation Blue Light Santa books teach children the importance of kindness and being there for each other - particularly at Christmas time.

In this year’s story, there is panic at the North Pole on Christmas Eve as the reindeer all come down with the flu. Unable to fly the sleigh, Santa has to come up with a plan to save Christmas.

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With the help of An Garda Síochana, he enlists the Garda Dog Unit and the Little Blue Heroes. The story features six Garda Dogs and seven honorary Gardaí from the Little Blue Heroes, including the late Max Wenman (Mighty Max) and the late Luke McCormack..

The book was generously funded and supported by Longford Public Participation Network and the Longford Community Safety Partnership and is part of the wider Operation Blue Light Santa fundraising campaign, which was founded by Garda Emma Kiernan in 2021.

So far, Operation Blue Light Santa has raised €22,300 for charity. All proceeds of this year’s book sales go towards the Little Blue Heroes Foundation and St Christopher’s Services.

Siobhán Cronogue, Longford PPN Development Officer, said: “Longford PPN are delighted to partner with An Garda Síochána on Operation Blue Light Santa for the third year in a row. This year, to raise awareness of the various disabilities many children and their families face and also to raise much needed funding for both charities, St Christopher’s Services and the Little Blue Heroes Foundation.”

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Garda Emma Kiernan, founder of Operation Blue Light Santa, said: “The Blue Light Santa Team, our Little Blue Heroes and the Garda Dog Unit are very excited for the launch of this year’s children’s book, which is in aid of St Christopher’s Services and the Little Blue Heroes Foundation. The book is guaranteed to bring lots of smiles and joy to our readers as they eagerly follow the storyline.

“Thank you very much to Longford PPN and Longford Community Safety Partnership for your continuing support of this project and to our creative team, journalist Jessica Thompson and artist Pat Taaffe, who have done the most wonderful job producing another magical book.”

Operation Blue Light Heroes will be launched at 3pm on Saturday, December 2 at the entertainment tent in Jolly Boys Christmas Market, Ballymahon. The book costs €10 per copy and will be available to purchase locally. Copies of the two previous books will also be on sale for €5 each.

For updates on where you can purchase your copy, or to order a copy by post, see @BlueLightSanta on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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