Looking Back at Magic at Moira: 10k Views, The Santa Run, and Building Something That Lasts

Sometimes you look back at old footage and realise you struck pure gold. You honestly couldn't have scripted it.

A few years ago I vlogged the annual Santa Run in my local town of Moira, Northern Ireland. At the time I just wanted to document the behind the scenes effort for my personal YouTube channel and Instagram. I did not expect that specific video to resonate the way it did. It racked up over 10,000 views across my platforms.

Revisiting that content now reminds me of two things. The magic of that specific night and the importance of the organisation we built behind it.

Moira Community: A cross-community hub & charity for Moira

For those who do not know the backstory, I helped co-found a local organisation that eventually turned into a charity called Moira Community.

Our goal was ambitious but necessary. We wanted to create a pot for community-based projects. We wanted a structure where anyone local could join the committee, pitch an idea for a non-profit initiative and have the support to make it happen. The ultimate long-term goal was, and still is, to build a physical Community Centre for the town.

One of the charity's flagship traditions is the Santa Run. We raise funds throughout the year to buy chocolate selection boxes for local kids. Then the real Santa parades through the village on his sleigh to hand them out.

Tech For Good: The Invisible Building Connection

You might wonder why this story is on the Invisible Building blog. As the founder, this project sits right at the heart of our "Tech For Good" initiative. Helping to establish a local non-profit was a valuable learning experience that went beyond just community spirit.

We stepped in to build the digital infrastructure, applying the rigorous standards and insights gained from working with major organisations like the Building Change Trust, Techies in Residence, Culture Tech, and the Community Foundation NI. However, our contribution went beyond technology. We added value by deeply understanding the operational journey. We learned how to navigate the complexities of funding projects through grants, setting up bank accounts, and managing crowdfunding campaigns. It was a practical application of our core values: using digital tools to build real-world community resilience.

When Nature Provided the Special Effects

That year I decided to vlog the run just to show the work that goes into it. But then the timing became unbelievable.

The exact second we hit play on the Bluetooth speaker to blast the Christmas tunes from Santa's sleigh it started to snow. I am talking real, heavy, cinematic snow.

I could not have planned it better if I had a Hollywood budget. We paraded past SuperValu and the local bars with snow falling and kids cheering. I kept rolling. Looking back at the footage now, some of those frames still look like they belong on a billboard. It was pure atmosphere.

That viral success was not down to my editing skills. It was the combination of genuine community spirit and a perfect coincidence of weather.

Passing the Torch

Looking back at that night gives me a massive sense of pride. Not just in the content but in the fact that the event happens without me now.

I resigned from the committee last year. This was actually part of the plan from day one. When we set up Moira Community we designed it so that leadership would rotate every two years. We did not want the charity to be dependent on the founders. We wanted something sustainable that belonged to the town.

The fact that the Santa Run and the Christmas market are still running today is the real result. It proves that if you build the right structure, the community will keep the engine running, regardless of who is at the helm.

I might have held the camera that snowy night, but the magic belongs to the town. If you have a similar idea for your own area, give it a go. You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to start.