IT’S THE MOST wonderful time of the year.

From the eagerly awaited arrival of Santa Claus to the exchange of carefully wrapped gifts under the glistening tree, Christmas is made to be spent with family, friends and neighbours.

But Christmas has changed somewhat over the years, and with many families now living in apartments and homes without chimneys, Santa Claus has had to adapt to make sure he can visit all the children.

For years, how he achieves this has been a source of debate and argument… until now.

Glenveagh, one of Ireland’s leading homebuilders, has come up with a creative solution to one of Christmas’ great burning questions – how does Santa Claus visit homes that don’t have a chimney?

The answer is The North Portal, a magical new way for Santa to get into any house on Christmas Eve. Inspired by the Christmas wreath, The North Portal is a passage for Santa to visit boys and girls without having to squeeze through a chimney.

In keeping with the Christmas spirit, the campaign is running in support of Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation’s Home for Christmas Appeal.

The North Portal donations will contribute to the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation’s target to raise €1 million this Christmas, which will allow them to fund up to 55,000 hours of in-home nursing care for families across Ireland, supporting children with highly complex and life-limiting medical conditions.

“This Christmas, we need all the help we can get, as we ask people to get behind this magical initiative from our wonderful friends in Glenveagh,” Alie Sheridan, Head of Fundraising at Jack and Jill said.

“The North Portal spreads joy in homes across Ireland and in turn, supports the families under our care, with the ambition to raise almost 2,800 hours of care, making a real difference for our families this Christmas.”

Image via Robbie Reynolds Photography

Once the Portal is activated, your child will get an Official North Portal Certificate from St. Nicholas which promises that he will visit on Christmas Eve. They will also get a spot on the Nice List for good measure!

Most importantly, a €1 donation will be made by Glenveagh for every portal activation, with the goal of raising €50,000 for the children’s charity. 

“We are so excited to help spread the magic of Christmas to homes across the country while supporting the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation’s Home for Christmas Appeal,” Annette McGarry, Community Engagement Manager at Glenveagh said.

“As a partnership, this is a natural fit for Glenveagh as we are committed to improving and contributing to communities across Ireland.”

To activate The North Portal by Glenveagh and get your very own certificate from Santa as well as help the Jack & Jill Foundation, click below.