Santa arrives at DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus for a sensory-friendly grotto event

The Christmas spirit was in full swing at DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus in Drumcondra as the man of the moment, Santa Claus, arrived to meet children with additional sensory needs and hear what’s on their Christmas wishlists ahead of the big day. 

Families from the local community, as well as the DCU staff community, were welcomed to a special pop-up Christmas grotto, organised by the School of Inclusive and Special Education, to provide a calm, accessible and enjoyable alternative to traditional Santa visits. The event was designed for children with sensory sensitivities or additional support needs.

Assistant Professor at the School of Inclusive and Special Education, Trish Carolan, said, ‘Traditional shopping centre grottoes can be overwhelming for many children because of the bright lights, loud noise and long queues. We wanted to create a space where children who might otherwise be unable to visit Santa Claus could experience the magic in a way that accommodates their sensory sensitivities.’

Trish added, ‘We have seen the success of this type of initiative in other universities such as the University of Galway, and so we wanted to make it available here in DCU. We created an environment that reduces pressure and added support for those attending the grotto. This is the first year of the initiative, and we saw a lot of interest in it, so we would really love to expand this in the coming years.’

The aim of the event was to ensure that children and their families can enjoy the festive season in a way that feels comfortable, supportive and genuinely inclusive, particularly for those who may not always be able to access typical Christmas events.

Teams from across the university, including members of the School of Inclusive and Special Education and the University Events team, worked to bring the magic of Christmas together.