Santa turns green as Sinn Féin launches gift list

SANTA CLAUS has changed his colours — according to Sinn Féin, at least.

The party is offering members an array of Christmas gifts to purchase — including a Christmas card in which Santa Claus is depicted wearing a green suit rather than his traditional red attire.

He may live in Lapland, but at heart, it seems, he’s a good, old-fashioned Irish republican.

The card shows Green Santa visiting a home on Christmas and reading a child’s letter left for him on the fireplace.

And the child’s Christmas wish? “Dear Santa, Please Free My Country”, it reads.

Sinn Féin is selling the cards in packets of 10 at a price of €15.

Among other suggested Christmas gifts is the “Republican Resistance Calendar 2008” for €8.

“Each month marks particular periods in the Irish freedom struggle, including the great escape from the H-Blocks in 1983, the execution of the Gibraltar Three, the 1916 rising and the Mountjoy helicopter escape,” Sinn Féin says of the calendar.

“Included is an updated roll of honour which lists all those who gave their lives in the current phase of the Irish fight for freedom.”

A more expensive gift is the “Quality Replica Irish Road Sign” for €30, which “points toward a 32-county united Ireland” and, in self-explanatory fashion, reads: “United Ireland, 32.”

Then there is the “My Heart is in Ireland” silver and gold pendant for €79. The pendant is a “sterling silver three-dimension map of Ireland with 18ct gold heart”.

“Comes with silver chain and a presentation box,” Sinn Féin says of the pendant. “Would make a perfect gift for someone special!”

But there are cheaper options, such as An Irish Eye, the latest book by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.

“An Irish Eye is a unique book covering the last four years of momentous events in Irish republicanism and in the politics of Ireland as a whole,” the description of the book reads.

“From the IRA decision in 2005 to formally end its armed campaign and to put its arms beyond use to the Sinn Féin decision in January 2007 to support the policing and justice system, unparalleled historic change has taken place. In An Irish Eye Gerry Adams brings his own perspective to bear on these developments.”

The full catalogue can be seen at www.sinnfeinbookshop.com.