We reveal the best places in each county to spot Santa on his Christmas Eve journey 

Following the recent announcement by An Taoiseach granting Santa unrestricted access to Irish airspace on 24^th December, creative communications agency Legacy Communications is delighted to share an exclusive guide to Santa’s magical journey across Ireland. As part of his global mission to deliver over 5 billion presents, Santa will be stopping in Ireland to deliver an astonishing more than 3.5 million gifts to children across the country*.

The route, mapped by our navigation elves (alongside the data team in Legacy) have had a look at what could be the most efficient route for Santa to take this Christmas for optimal efficiency and wonder. Included below is a detailed breakdown of their findings, including: presents delivered, imaginative magical navigation strategies, and the best locations in each county for those hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa on his magical Christmas Eve journey.

Santa’s Magical Journey Across Ireland:

1. Donegal

• Presents Delivered: 105,000 presents – Like giving every person at the annual Donegal International Rally a gift.
• Magical Navigation: Santa weaves an aurora over Malin Head, using the celestial lights as a natural GPS.
• Spotting Santa: Malin Head – Ireland’s northernmost point, ideal for viewing the sleigh silhouetted against the Northern Lights.

2. Derry

• Presents Delivered: 90,000 presents – Equivalent to providing every student in the county’s primary schools with three gifts.
• Magical Navigation: Santa’s sleigh glows with a peaceful light as it glides over the Peace Bridge, casting a gentle luminescence.
• Spotting Santa: The iconic Peace Bridge, where Santa’s sleigh leaves a trail of twinkling peace symbols.

3. Antrim

• Presents Delivered: 225,000 presents – Similar to gifting every attendee at all Ulster Rugby home games in a season.
• Magical Navigation: Using the basalt columns of Giant’s Causeway as a mystical guide, Santa’s sleigh leaves a prismatic glow.
• Spotting Santa: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, where Santa often dips low, skimming the waves.

4. Down

• Presents Delivered: 165,000 presents – As if every visitor to the St. Patrick’s Festival in Downpatrick over three years received a gift.
• Magical Navigation: Weaving magic that mirrors Strangford Lough’s serene beauty, Santa turns the water into a mirror reflecting his journey.
• Spotting Santa: Top of Slieve Donard – the highest point in the Mournes, offering a breathtaking vantage point.

5. Armagh

• Presents Delivered: 90,000 presents – Comparable to distributing gifts to every person attending the Apple Blossom Festival in Armagh for five years.
• Magical Navigation: Using the celestial alignment at Navan Fort, Santa navigates with the precision of an ancient druid.
• Spotting Santa: The Armagh Observatory, where the stars align just right for a magical sighting.

6. Tyrone

• Presents Delivered: 120,000 presents – Like handing out gifts to every spectator at Healy Park for ten major matches.
• Magical Navigation: Gliding over the Sperrin Mountains, Santa uses their ancient contours as a natural sleigh path.
• Spotting Santa: Beaghmore Stone Circles, a mystical spot where Santa’s sleigh casts eerie shadows over the stones.

7. Fermanagh

• Presents Delivered: 45,000 presents – Equivalent to giving every visitor to the Enniskillen Castle Museums a gift each year.
• Magical Navigation: Harnessing the reflective waters of Lough Erne, Santa’s sleigh skims the surface, leaving a trail of sparkling water droplets.
• Spotting Santa: The historic Devenish Island, where the sleigh’s reflection dances on the lough.

8. Monaghan

• Presents Delivered: 45,000 presents – Similar to providing a gift to every attendee at the Taste of Monaghan festival for three consecutive years.
• Magical Navigation: Santa uses the rolling hills of the drumlins as natural ramps, his sleigh briefly airborne before swooping down again.
• Spotting Santa: On top of any drumlin, but especially near the Monaghan County Museum, for a quick fly-by.

9. Cavan

• Presents Delivered: 60,000 presents – As if every visitor to the Cavan Burren Park over two years received a Christmas gift.
• Magical Navigation: Mirroring the moonlight off the myriad lakes, Santa finds his way through a labyrinth of waterways.
• Spotting Santa: Lough Oughter Castle, a serene spot where the sleigh’s reflection might be seen.

10. Louth

• Presents Delivered: 75,000 presents – Comparable to gifting every participant in the National Leprechaun Hunt in Carlingford for fifteen years.
• Magical Navigation: Darting across the Cooley Peninsula, Santa’s sleigh is guided by the twinkling lights of Carlingford Lough.
• Spotting Santa: Cooley Peninsula, particularly near Carlingford, where his sleigh lights up the night sky.

11. Meath

• Presents Delivered: 120,000 presents – Like distributing a gift to every attendee at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival for three years.
• Magical Navigation: Aligning his sleigh with the solstice sunbeam at Newgrange, Santa navigates using this ancient celestial clock.
• Spotting Santa: Hill of Tara, where ancient kings once watched the skies – now for Santa.

12. Dublin

• Presents Delivered: 900,000 presents – Enough to fill Croke Park 11 times.

• Magical Navigation: Harnessing the vibrant city pulse, Santa weaves through the urban landscape, his sleigh shimmering with a spectrum of festive lights.
• Spotting Santa: The Spire on O’Connell Street – looking up, you might see his sleigh cross the moon.

13. Wicklow

• Presents Delivered: 75,000 presents – Comparable to providing a gift to every visitor at the Bray Jazz Festival for over a decade.
• Magical Navigation: Utilising the serene beauty of the Wicklow Mountains, Santa’s sleigh becomes one with the mist, gliding silently over the sleeping hills.
• Spotting Santa: Top of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, offering a clear view of Santa’s misty trail.

14. Kildare

• Presents Delivered: 150,000 presents – As if every fan attending the Punchestown Festival over two years received a gift.
• Magical Navigation: Drawing on the speed of legendary racehorses, Santa’s reindeer move with unmatched swiftness across the plains.
• Spotting Santa: The Curragh Racecourse, where his sleigh might briefly appear on the horizon.

15. Laois

• Presents Delivered: 45,000 presents – Similar to gifting every attendee at the Electric Picnic festival for a single year.
• Magical Navigation: Illuminating the Rock of Dunamase with a spectral light, Santa aligns his sleigh with the ancient fort’s ley lines.
• Spotting Santa: Rock of Dunamase, where a fleeting sparkle might signal his presence.

16. Offaly

• Presents Delivered: 45,000 presents – Like handing out gifts to every visitor at Birr Castle’s Science Centre over several seasons.
• Magical Navigation: Using the historic telescope at Birr Castle as a guide, Santa aligns his sleigh with the stars.
• Spotting Santa: Near the Leviathan of Parsonstown at Birr Castle, where a quick flash of light might reveal his sleigh.

17. Westmeath

• Presents Delivered: 45,000 presents – Comparable to distributing gifts to every visitor at the Mullingar Fleadh Cheoil over a few years.
• Magical Navigation: Reflecting the moonlight off Lough Ennell, Santa finds his way through the heart of the Midlands with ease.
• Spotting Santa: Belvedere House, where the reflection of his sleigh lights up the lough.

18. Longford

• Presents Delivered: 24,000 presents – Equivalent to giving every attendee at the Longford Summer Festival a gift for several years.
• Magical Navigation: Employing a charm of ancient woodlands, Santa’s sleigh glides effortlessly above the treetops, almost invisible.
• Spotting Santa: Derrycassin Woods, where a rustling above the trees might indicate his swift passage.

19. Leitrim

• Presents Delivered: 18,000 presents – As if each visitor to the Carrick Water Music Festival received a gift over five years.
• Magical Navigation: Drawing from the enchanting mist of Glencar Waterfall, Santa cloaks his sleigh in a veil of mist, moving unseen but for the occasional sparkle.
• Spotting Santa: Glencar Waterfall, where Santa’s sleigh may briefly materialize from the mist.

20. Sligo

• Presents Delivered: 36,000 presents – Like handing out gifts to every visitor at the Sligo Jazz Project and Sligo Summer Festival over several seasons.
• Magical Navigation: Santa is anticipated to use the majestic Benbulben mountain as a navigational landmark, guiding his sleigh through the county with its unique and iconic shape.
• Spotting Santa: The best place to spot Santa in Sligo would be along the shores of Lough Gill. The serene and reflective waters of the lake, especially near Parke’s Castle, provide an enchanting backdrop for a potential sighting of Santa’s sleigh, with its lights reflecting off the water’s surface.

21. Roscommon

• Presents Delivered: 30,000 presents – This is akin to giving a gift to every visitor at the Roscommon Lamb Festival, over three years.

• Magical Navigation: Using the reflections of Lough Key, Santa weaves a path of light across the county, his sleigh barely skimming the water’s surface.
• Spotting Santa: Dr. Hyde Park, especially near the water’s edge, where a streak of light might flash past.

22. Mayo

• Presents Delivered: 75,000 presents – Like distributing gifts to every pilgrim on Croagh Patrick over several Reek Sundays.
• Magical Navigation: Employing the reflective surface of Clew Bay, Santa’s sleigh casts multiple reflections, creating the illusion of being everywhere at once.
• Spotting Santa: Croagh Patrick, where his sleigh’s reflection might be seen on the bay’s waters.

23. Galway

• Presents Delivered: 150,000 presents – Comparable to gifting every visitor at the Galway International Arts Festival for two years.
• Magical Navigation: Santa employs the swirling Connemara mists to conceal his sleigh, creating an enchanting dance of shadows and light across the rugged terrain.
• Spotting Santa: Kylemore Abbey, where the mystical landscape provides the perfect backdrop for a fleeting glimpse of his sleigh.

24. Clare

• Presents Delivered: 60,000 presents – Equivalent to giving a gift to every fan attending the Fleadh Nua in Ennis for three years.
• Magical Navigation: Santa uses the Cliffs of Moher as a natural guide, his sleigh casting a magical glow over the Atlantic.
• Spotting Santa: O’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs of Moher, where his sleigh might be silhouetted against the moonlit cliffs.

25. Limerick

• Presents Delivered: 105,000 presents – Like handing out gifts to every student in Limerick City’s primary and secondary schools.
• Magical Navigation: Weaving through the River Shannon, Santa’s sleigh creates ripples of light, illuminating the waters.
• Spotting Santa: King John’s Castle, where the Shannon’s waters might shimmer with the sleigh’s passage.

26. Kerry

• Presents Delivered: 75,000 presents – Similar to providing a gift to every visitor at the Rose of Tralee Festival over two years.
• Magical Navigation: Santa maneuvers around the Skelligs, using the starlight reflected off the ocean to guide his way.
• Spotting Santa: Skellig Michael, where a brief sparkle on the horizon could be the sleigh.

27. Cork

• Presents Delivered: 270,000 presents – Comparable to giving a gift to every child in Cork City and County, reflecting its large population.
• Magical Navigation: Santa uses the old tracks of the Butter Road, leaving a trail of golden light weaving through the county.
• Spotting Santa: Blarney Castle, where the sleigh might be glimpsed weaving its magic.

28. Waterford

• Presents Delivered: 60,000 presents – Like distributing gifts to every attendee at the Spraoi International Street Arts Festival for six years.
• Magical Navigation: Drawing on the city’s crystal-making heritage, Santa’s sleigh refracts light into a spectrum of colors, dazzling as it speeds by.
• Spotting Santa: Reginald’s Tower, where the sleigh’s prismatic light show is best viewed.

29. Tipperary

• Presents Delivered: 75,000 presents – Equivalent to providing a gift to every visitor at the Rock of Cashel over multiple years.
• Magical Navigation: Santa echoes the legends of the Rock of Cashel, his sleigh casting ancient shadows across the landscape.
• Spotting Santa: The Rock of Cashel, where Santa’s sleigh casts a mystical glow on the ancient stones.

30. Kilkenny

• Presents Delivered: 45,000 presents – As if every attendee at the Kilkenny Arts Festival over two years received a gift.
• Magical Navigation: Darting through the medieval streets, Santa’s sleigh is guided by the twinkling lights of Kilkenny Castle.
• Spotting Santa: Kilkenny Castle, where a burst of light and laughter might signal his visit.

31. Carlow

• Presents Delivered: 30,000 presents – Comparable to gifting every visitor to the Carlow Arts Festival over several years.
• Magical Navigation: Harnessing the Dolmen’s ancient energy, Santa’s sleigh becomes weightless, allowing for nimble navigation.
• Spotting Santa: Brownshill Dolmen, where a mystical energy might reveal his sleigh’s flight.

32. Wexford

• Presents Delivered: 75,000 presents – Similar to providing a gift to every fan attending the Wexford Opera Festival over three years.
• Magical Navigation: Using the first light of dawn over the Irish Sea, Santa recharges his reindeer for the final leg of the journey.
• Spotting Santa: Hook Lighthouse, where the first rays of dawn might catch the gleam of his sleigh.

As Santa prepares for his remarkable journey across the country, delivering a grand total of 3,528,000 presents, the spirit of Christmas is truly alive and well in Ireland.

Legacy Communications invites everyone to join in the festive cheer and keep an eye out for Santa’s sleigh. Whether you’re in the bustling streets of Dublin or the serene landscapes of Donegal, look up to the skies, make a wish, and embrace the joy that Santa brings to every home and heart in Ireland!

* Calculation based on 3 gifts for every child who celebrates Christmas.

James Elms joins as Head of Corporate & Business and Mary McGuire announced as Head of Sponsorship

We are continuing to expand our offering with the creation of a new Corporate & Business Communications division, headed up by James Elms, while Mary McGuire has been announced as the new Head of Sponsorship.

The independent agency, founded by Bernard and James Brogan, has grown by an average of 35% year-on-year and has increased its client base both in Ireland and internationally. As part of its growth strategy, it will create two further divisions taking its total to five with plans for the current team of 32 to grow to 40 in 2024.

Having built an award-winning communications practice at Legacy, the appointment of James Elms will create a standalone Corporate & Business Division to meet the growing needs of Legacy’s client base in this area. Elms brings his experience from strategic communication roles at Sky and Betfair (part of Flutter Entertainment), plus consulting for some of Europe’s fastest growing tech startups, to the Legacy Communications team.

The new division vows to bring a modern approach to Corporate & Business communications, leveraging the best of B2C tactics to drive tangible repetitional results and fuel revenue growth for B2B and Corporate clients. Niamh Hopkins will continue to lead Consumer Communications at Legacy.

In recent years the Legacy Brand & Sponsorship offering, led by Shireen McDonagh, has surged. This will now evolve into two divisions with McDonagh leading the Brand Division and Mary McGuire taking the reigns as Head of Sponsorship. With a track record of innovation and strategy McGuire has consistently grown with Legacy since joining in 2020, bringing her culture-first mindset to the fore in all client work including clients such as Indeed, AIG, Amgen, laya healthcare, Aviva, PTSB, among many others.

As Head of Sponsorship, McGuire is poised to inspire and lead the team to even greater success as Legacy continues to push the boundaries of creativity and communication within the sponsorship industry.

Mícheál Brennan will continue to lead our growing Search & Digital practice which has been nominated for Awards in Europe and the US in recent months, winning 2 awards at the European Search Awards.

Our Managing Director, Kevin Moore, commented: “Our growth is testament to our team and its very satisfying to provide two further leadership opportunities at Legacy with James and Mary heading up the two divisions. We are constantly looking at how our services can evolve to achieve the best possible results for our clients in an ever-changing industry and I’m really looking forward to the coming years with this team.”

Darkness Into Light is taking place this Saturday, May 6th, and Legacy is walking this year as a team in Phoenix Park to fundraise for Pieta.

Pieta is not only a longstanding client of Legacy Communications, but the charity also holds great meaning for our team, and we raise money every year for their largest fundraising event.

We’re over halfway to reaching our €1,000 goal so we’d really appreciate any donations either through Legacy’s company fundraiser page or directly to Pieta.

Thanks for the support, you can find our company fundraiser page here.

Clara from our search & digital PR team took to the stage at #BrightonSEO today to talk about the 30,30,3 rule for pitching journalists.

If you’re interested in learning more then check out the slides below!

Recently in April, I contacted one of my clients, a health and safety consultant based in Cork and asked him how he felt things were going with his Google Ads campaign. This client is meticulous when it comes to tracking revenue so I knew it would be a good answer and would be well tracked. His answer was the reason why I am such an advocate for Google Ads and why I feel that all small businesses should have a campaign. In the previous month – March 2015 – he had spent €100 on Google Ads, his return on this €100 spend was €1,655 which is a massive return on such a relatively small marketing spend. The revenue from Google Ads was made up as follows:

A Manual Handling course worth €240

A site visit worth €120

A site visit worth €180

A site visit worth €50

A safety course worth €640

A safety course worth €425

We also looked over his previous revenue and found that a lot of the clients that find him on Google initially, become repeat clients afterwards. In most cases his first “in” with the company is when they find him on google while searching for keywords like “manual handling course Cork”. After he has given the manual handling course at the business and they realize that he is a normal human being just like them and isn’t a health and safety maniac that “won’t let them use pencils for fear of them being too sharp and cutting someone”, they often enquire about other services he offers such as risk assessments, safety statements and on site consulting. One builder that found him through google when searching for a manual handling course has since given him €520 worth of business in the last 12 months and referred him to another builder that gave him approx €1,460 worth of work in the same period. That’s €520 directly from his Google Ads campaign and €1,460 indirectly, a return of €1,980 all from one click on Google which probably cost him in the region of €1.50-€2.00

So if you are a small business owner do yourself a favour and do it today, set up a Google Ads campaign and get yourself found online, it could end up bringing a lot of extra revenue to your business. If you don’t have the spare time to do it then hire a PPC agency like Legacy Communications to manage it for you, an experienced Google Ads agency will help you get a higher return and will get this return much quicker than you will, due to the learning curve you will be on when setting up your first Google Ads campaign.

If you can’t afford to pay a consulting fee and have some spare time to learn how to setup and manage an Google Ads campaign yourself then you absolutely have to do it! Some agencies will try to make Google Ads sound mystical, magical and impossible in bid to convince you that you need to pay them a fee, but the truth is that it Google Ads is user friendly and designed to help you bring in more business, everybody has to start somewhere even the top specialist at the top Google Ads agency had to learn Google Ads from scratch so there is nothing stopping you from learning it either. Our blog “setting up your first Google Ads campaign” has some great tips for someone that has never used Google Ads and points out some brilliant resources. You can also call Google, their new business team will help you setup your first Google Ads campaign and guide you to the right keywords for your business.

If you have any questions or would like some insight then contact us for a free review, we would be more than happy to get you on the road to PPC success.

Legacy and leading UK PR and social agency Good Relations, have been appointed to lead consumer PR for Krispy Kreme across both markets. Krispy Kreme has made the appointment as part of an ambitious growth plan to widen appeal and increase relevance amongst new and existing customers.

Legacy Communications and Good Relations’ mandate is to build a distinctive and memorable place in culture for Krispy Kreme, bringing alive the joy that the brand delivers every day. The ambitious PR campaign will focus on the moments and places that matter for customers and will be accompanied by an extensive influencer campaign as well as support for new store openings and NPD announcements.

The account will be led by Niamh Hopkins, Head of Communications at Legacy Communications, who oversees the agency’s PR and influencer accounts. Legacy will work closely with lead Lawrence Collis, Executive Director at Good Relations to deliver on-the-ground support for Krispy Kreme in Ireland.

Niamh Hopkins, Head of Communications at Legacy Communications, commented on the win: ‘’ We were delighted to partner with Good Relations on this hugely exciting pitch. As leaders in consumer PR, with a special expertise in food PR, Krispy Kreme is a brand we’ve always admired and are excited to roll out the new strategy for the brand in Ireland.’’

Legacy, which specialises in services including PR, Content and Search Marketing, and Sponsorship, has been on a winning streak lately with the company doubling its head count from 15 to 29 since 2020. This appointment is the latest addition to the agency’s growing portfolio which includes recent wins this summer such as San Pellegrino, Asics, Dogs Trust, Hubspot, Portwest, Breakthrough Cancer Research and Dubarry. Other clients include Aldi Ireland, Pieta, Energia, Indeed, laya healthcare, Hidden Hearing, Active Iron, Amgen and Lyre’s.