There were Joyous scenes in Limerick City last night as Little Neil Shanahan, the boy who miraculously survived a 70 foot fall from the top of the Limerick Strand Hotel last July, switched on the city’s Christmas lights.
Little Neil who thankfully survived the horrific fall and is on the mend after suffering a few minor injuries, graces the 4,000 strong crowd to officially mark the beginning of the Christmas season on the Shannon.
Speaking about the wonderful occasion little Neil’s delighted parents Martina and Mike said this Christmas will be the best they’ve ever had.
An emotional Martina told reporters: “I’m not sure we can possibly have a better Christmas than this. We are here tonight at the invitation of Limerick City and County Council, turning on the Christmas lights when it could have been so different.”
“It could have been the worst Christmas imaginable but it’s turned out to be the one we are most grateful for because Neil is with us.”
“It does make us think, at the same time, of those who have not been so lucky and our hearts really go out to them,” she added.
Meanwhile an equally emotional Mike said: “We were delighted to be invited in for this. It was an incredible experience tonight. Neil, having had so many medics around him during his recovery, is well used to attention and he lapped it all up. He loved it.”