JULIANNE MCKEIGUE
Illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald
First published 2024 by The O’Brien Press Ltd, 12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6, D06 HD27, Ireland.
JULIANNE McKEIGUE hails from Tullamore in County Offaly and is a staunch GAA fan, with a particular love of hurling. She works as the events, education and retail manager at the GAA Museum in Croke Park. Julianne studied journalism at DCU and worked in sports PR, starting her career in the offices of the late, great Bill O’Herlihy. Julianne lives in Drumcondra with her two children, Leo and Juliet, her husband James and Billy the dog. This is her first book.
BRIAN FITZGERALD feels most at home illustrating children’s picture books, encouraged by winning the International Silent Book Competition in Bologna. He is the illustrator of You Can Do It, Rosie! and Wonders of the Wild. He lives and works in Dún Laoghaire.
Tel: +353 1 4923333; Fax: +353 1 4922777
E-mail: books@obrien.ie
Website: obrien.ie
The O’Brien Press is a member of Publishing Ireland.
ISBN: 978-1-78849-465-6
Text © Julianne McKeigue 2024
Illustrations © Brian Fitzgerald 2024
The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted. Typesetting, layout, design and editing © The O’Brien Press 2024
Cover and text design by Emma Byrne
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including for text and data mining, training arti cial intelligence systems, photocopying, recording or in any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Printed and bound by Oriental Press, Dubai. The paper in this book is produced using pulp from managed forests.
Published in
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Croke Park It was quiet and peaceful; the great pitch was dark. The seats were deserted, frost covered the Hill; The museum was empty, the turnstiles were still.
The players and fans were gone home to their beds, While dreams of next year swirled around in their heads.
The only one left as the clock struck midnight Was security guard Jenny, to turn out the light.
She rose from her chair and stretched out her arms
To begin her patrol and to check the alarms.
When out on the pitch, there arose such a racket, She picked up her torch and threw on her jacket.
She dashed through the tunnel as fast as she could. What was that noise? Who was up to no good?
To the side of the pitch, she flew like a flash, And as she arrived, there came a loud crash.
What she saw was astounding and filled her with cheer …
A shiny gold sleigh and nine prancing reindeer!
And sat in the sleigh on a comfy red seat: A driver with football boots strapped to his feet.
With his eyes all a-twinkle, he leapt from the sleigh And stood on the pitch, proudly ready to play. He gave a loud call, and the reindeer obliged. They flew from the sleigh and lined up by his side.
