Electricians climb heights to light way for Santa

SANTA Claus will enjoy a safe flight over Cork this Christmas thanks to two high-flying electricians who lit up the city’s tallest cranes to ensure he can safely deliver his presents.

By Sunday, the last of the three cranes at the Elysian tower on the city’s southside will be decked out.

One of the men, Aidan Madden from Togher, said without the lights, the 18-storey construction could get in Santa’s way.

“They are like landing lights for Santa. He will see where he’s going and there’s no fear he’ll crash.”

He and David Ahern, from Ovens, have already battled the stormy conditions, 90 metres up, to strap approximately 1,000 bulbs to two of the cranes on site.

“One of the days we went up we were just winded off. We had to take shelter behind the PJ Hegarty sign at the top we had to come back down. It was just too dangerous.

“But last Saturday was beautiful, a crisp sunny day. It was lovely up there.”

The crow’s nest at the top of the tallest of the three cranes is 92 metres above the ground but Aidan said neither of the men are scared of heights.

“You are tied on all the time so it is not that dangerous. When you go up there first it is strange but after a few minutes you get used to it and you just work away. It helps that I have David up there to help me.”

It takes a full weekend to put all of the bulbs on each crane in place. And the men have to be edged out in the cradle by the crane operator to tie every individual bulb on.

The third crane was only erected this week so the electricians will not be able to begin the final part of the job until the site shuts down for the weekend.

After Christmas, when Santa has completed a successful flight to homes around Ireland, the 1,500 bulbs will have to be taken down and packed away until next year.