Another Christmas book for children, featuring local kids as main characters, has launched for charity. A fundraising campaign, Operation Blue Light Santa, was founded by Longford garda, Emma Kiernan, in 2021. Two books were launched as part of the fundraising activities in 2021 and 2022: Operation Blue Santa and Operation Blue Nose Reindeer. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO The third book in the series, Operation Blue Light Heroes, was launched amid a flurry of excitement on Saturday, December 2, in Ballymahon. So far, Operation Blue Light Santa has raised €22,300 for charity. Proceeds of 2023 go to Little Blue Heroes Foundation and St Christopher’s Services. Local journalist Jessica Thompson has written all three books, with Garda Kiernan approaching her two years ago to see if she would be interested in writing the children’s books. “I asked Jessica if she would like to write Christmas stories for little children, to coincide with the initiative,” said Garda Kiernan. “Putting her own spin on it and making it unique was important to us, and a book that would teach children the importance of being nice to one another, especially 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. Local artist Nicole Foster illustrated the books in 2021 and 2022, while Pat Taaffe illustrated this year’s book. The story features six garda dogs and seven honorary Gardaí from the Little Blue Heroes, Maddie Baxter, Kalvin O’Meara, Zoe Cryan, Rian Sutton, Tobias Godla and the late Max Wenman (RIP) and Luke McCormack (RIP). The book was 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. This year’s Operation Blue Santa book, Operation Blue Light Heroes, will be on-sale at Newsround Longford, Jenny's gift shop Ballymahon,

placeholder image — Another Christmas book for children, featuring local kids as main characters, has launched for charity. A fundraising campaign, Operation Blue Light Santa, was founded by Longford garda, Emma Kiernan, in 2021. Two books were launched as part of the fundraising activities in 2021 and 2022: Operation Blue Santa and Operation Blue Nose Reindeer. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO The third book in the series, Operation Blue Light Heroes, was launched amid a flurry of excitement on Saturday, December 2, in Ballymahon. So far, Operation Blue Light Santa has raised €22,300 for charity. Proceeds of 2023 go to Little Blue Heroes Foundation and St Christopher’s Services. Local journalist Jessica Thompson has written all three books, with Garda Kiernan approaching her two years ago to see if she would be interested in writing the children’s books. “I asked Jessica if she would like to write Christmas stories for little children, to coincide with the initiative,” said Garda Kiernan. “Putting her own spin on it and making it unique was important to us, and a book that would teach children the importance of being nice to one another, especially 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. Local artist Nicole Foster illustrated the books in 2021 and 2022, while Pat Taaffe illustrated this year’s book. The story features six garda dogs and seven honorary Gardaí from the Little Blue Heroes, Maddie Baxter, Kalvin O’Meara, Zoe Cryan, Rian Sutton, Tobias Godla and the late Max Wenman (RIP) and Luke McCormack (RIP). The book was 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. This year’s Operation Blue Santa book, Operation Blue Light Heroes, will be on-sale at Newsround Longford, Jenny's gift shop Ballymahon,

PICTURES | Operation Blue Light Heroes launched in Ballymahon

By Faye Dorgan

Published 13th Dec 2023, 20:34 GMT

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Caption: John O'Sullivan and Jessica Thompson Picture: Shelley Corcoran

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Caption: At Jolly Boys Christmas Market in Ballymahon for the launch of the 2023 Operation Blue Light Santa book, Operation Blue Light Heroes were Superintendent Seamus Boyle, Cllr Peggy Nolan, Cathy Birmingham (mother of the late Max Wenman), author Jessica Thompson, Garda Darragh McLoughlin, Cllr Seamus Butler, Dave and Olive Kelly (parents of the late Luke McCormack), Garda Emma Kiernan, Siobhan Cronogue (County Longford PPN). The late Max Wenman (RIP) and Luke McCormack (RIP) are among the honorary Gardaí from the Little Blue Heroes that feature in the book Picture: Shelley Corcoran

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Caption: Mr and Mrs Claus with Garda Rossa Smith, author of Operation Blue Light Heroes Jessica Thompson, Ruby Kelly, County Longford Public Participation Network Coordinator Siobhan Cronogue and Garda Emma Kiernan, founder of the Operation Blue Light Santa campaign. Garda Smith was Garda Buddy to the late Luke McCormack, one of the honorary Gardaí from the Little Blue Heroes who features in the book Picture: Shelley Corcoran

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Caption: Alex, Linda and Ellen Loughlin, Mary Granger Picture: Shelley Corcoran

Longford

PICTURES | Operation Blue Light Heroes launched in Ballymahon

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