The Irish Santa Claus – Seamus Maguire

The Irish Santa Claus – by Mattie Lennon

Seamus Maguire was born in Thurles in 1950: the only child of James and Eileen Maguire.

He completed his education in 1969 and subsequently worked as a Bus driver, Prison Officer and Social Worker in Tipperary and Cork.

In 1979, The International Year Of The Child, he founded Youth-In-Need. It was meant to be a one off project to help three young people for six months. Seamus went on to pioneer many projects to help young and old at home and abroad. Over the years he was the recipient of many prestigious awards and commendations.

He headed an organisation, which operated a soup-run in London.

While he and his volunteers were distributing soup, sandwiches and blankets to the Irish homeless Seamus felt that the marginalized exiles needed more.

In December 1979 when Jingle Bells was blaring from loudspeakers in cities around the world and Ireland was coming to terms with the buzz brought about by the cub-Celtic Tiger, Seamus was busy.

The unsung hero from Tipperary was approaching the homeless in the English Capital offering them the chance to ” go home for Christmas”. Because of shame or a total rejection of their homeland a minority refused.

Those who availed of his offer were taken to a hostel and given accommodation.

Proper food for a few days and fresh clothes meant that many who had abandoned all hope of a homecoming would be able to meet their loved ones looking “fairly respectable”.

Amid all the hardship, Seamus and his crew experienced the odd humorous incident…

A volunteer worker, John Cassidy from Clogher, County Donegal; told the following story to me;

“In early 1992 we arrived in Hammersmith with a forty- foot lorry loaded with food and blankets for the homeless centres. As we were unloading on a road that was restricted to vehicles less than three tons a policeman insisted we move or he would have us arrested and the lorry impounded.

After a few moments of heated discussion Seamus produced a document bearing the seal of both the Irish and British Governments and warned the policeman that it would cause a diplomatic incident if he continued harassing us.

The policeman reached for the document that Seamus was holding hesitated, looked at Seamus and said; “you have four hours to unload and get the truck out of here”.

Thankfully the policeman did not insist on checking the paper that Seamus was holding; it was a customs clearance certificate.”

John Cassidy goes on to say:

“In 1990, long before it became the major issue that it is to day, Seamus McGuire Saw the need for a special counselling and support service for young victims of sexual and physical abuse.

In the twenty-year period 1979-1999. It is estimated that almost four thousand people were helped through the various work and services provided by his organisation at home and in London.

By Christmas 1993 Seamus who suffered from severe diabetic neuropathy in both feet was no longer able to walk the streets of London seeking out those in need, he had to content himself with directing operations from his home in Thurles, but he had a dedicated team of volunteers who ensured that the Christmas Rescue Coach continued to operate.

Seamus McGuire died in 2000 aged forty- seven. As he lived alone his body lay undiscovered in his home for a number of days. The brief media reports of his passing mentioned his work on behalf of the less well off in our society, both at home and abroad.”

Seamus Maguire pictured second from the left

If anyone from the Thurles area or beyond has any more information about Seamus Maguire please email: mattielennon[at]eircom.net

Based on the information given to me by John Cassidy I have written the following ballad, which has been put to music by Mairead Curran;

SEAMUS MAGUIRE

By Mattie Lennon

The soup-runs of well meaning people

Could not heal the souls or hurt pride

Of the Irish in alien doorways

With no one but God on their side.

Through decades of drink and misfortune

Returning was out the frame;

The streets and the hills of their homeland

Were but specks on an ocean of shame.

Despondency fed by resentment

Ran loose like an unbroken colt,

‘Til a hero, unsung, from Tipp’rary

Gave the conscience of Ireland a jolt.

“We’ll bring some of them home for next Christmas,

Who haven’t seen loves ones for years.

All we need is the will and the courage”

He blasted at pessimist ears.

Chorus

Dreams dreamt, under cardboard in Camden,

Of a whin-bush, round tower or turf fire

Were realised beyond expectation;

We were brought home by Seamus Maguire.

The captains of business he badgered

While his care-workers beavered away,

Collecting the cash and resources,

And then came the memorable day

When the “rescue coach” left Dublin’s quayside

In December of seventy nine,

Taking fifty glad hearts to the country

With their loved ones once more to entwine.

For the next twenty years every Christmas

Maguire and his team would ensure

That the birth of the Saviour was special

For those He called “Bless’ed”; the poor.

Any many a parent died happy

Resigned to their ultimate fate

With the son or the daughter they cherished

United before ’twas too late.

Chorus

The date on a gravestone in Thurles

Proclaims ninety-nine as the year

That God gave to Seamus Maguire

The reward for his mission down here.

And his name in more permanent fashion

Is forever inscribed in that tome;

The hearts of our destitute exiles

Who once had no hope of going home.

Chorus.

Words © Mattie Lennon 2004
(Put to music by Mairead Curran)