Longford author and illustrator launch new book

Local author, Jessica Thompson, and illustrator N.A.D., officially launched their book, Operation Blue Light Prankster, in Bridgeways Family Resource Centre, Ballymahon, on December 1 .

The day kicked off with a private party for local Little Blue Heroes and their families, who were delighted to meet Blue Santa himself, as well as Mrs Blue Santa and Ruby the Elf.

The book was officially launched by Superintendent Michael Dorrigan and the event was attended by Blue Light Santa founder Garda Emma Kiernan, Sergeant James Rowan, Garda Anthony Scanlon and Garda Lorrain Shiel of Longford Community Policing Unit, and Garda Paul Martin of Mullingar Community Policing Unit. Garda Rossa Smith of the National Dog Unit also attended with Dutch, one of the canine stars of last year's book.

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Also in attendance were Garda Claire Hardman and Garda Geraldine Heneghan of Ballymahon Garda Station, Blue Light Santa funders Janine Bartley (Longford Community Safety Partnership) and Siobhán Cronogue (Longford PPN).

Huge thanks goes out to Erica Chadwick, who has been instrumental in helping to make the launch day so memorable for our Little Blue Heroes and everybody present, to Marian Malone for providing a gorgeous chocolate biscuit pudding for a raffle prize, and to Emer and the team at Bridgeways Family Resource Centre for providing the use of the venue.

The Operation Blue Santa programme was founded in 2021 by Garda Emma Kiernan, as a way to raise valuable funds for children’s charities in the lead-up to Christmas. So far, the Blue Santa team has raised in excess of €31,000 over the course of three consecutive years, with hopes to continue that trend in 2024.

All proceeds from this year’s book will go to the Little Blue Heroes Foundation, a national charity, which supports the families of children with serious illnesses in Ireland, while empowering the lives of children by making them Honorary Gardaí and through positive community engagement.

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Operation Blue Light Prankster is the fourth book in the series and stars Gorm, a naughty little elf who wreaks havoc in the North Pole, delaying the usual Christmas Eve running order, and causing concern among the other elves.

It’s the Community Policing Unit who eventually catch the naughty elf and, with the help of their little assistant detective elves, Saoirse and Lucy, they put Gorm back on the right path, steering him away from a life of crime.

The book retails at €10 and is currently available in Newsround Longford and Wilder & Gold, Ballymahon. To order this book online, or to complete your Blue Light Santa collection with the previous books, contact @BlueLightSanta on Facebook or Instagram.

Also see LongfordLive.ie for more coverage.

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