Although he's not from Galway himself, the subject of this week's Galway profile knows more about the local children than anyone else.

Santa Claus has been visiting Galway for hundreds of years now, and this year he's taken time out of his busy schedule to tell the Galway Independent how his preparations are going for 2007.

Santa has variously been described as an early Christian saint (Saint Nicholas of Myra), and a Dutch figure of legend (Sinter Klaus). These days, he's a jolly, bearded old man who keeps tabs on the world's children, in between making and delivering presents for the ones who have been good during the year leading up to Christmas.

Although he's famous for his crimson garb, the outfit is a relatively recent addition to the image of Saint Nick. It wasn't until the 1930s when Coca Cola began using his image in advertising campaigns that he got his famous red suit.

Although the phone line to Lapland is a little crackly (especially at this time of year, with all the magic in the air), the Galway Independent spoke at length to Santa about his thoughts on Christmas, kids, and of course, Galway.

With less than a week left to Christmas, Santa and all the elves are extremely busy with last minute preparation for their Christmas marathon.

"We have been very, very busy for the last number of months and now we are just getting ready to make the long journey around to deliver presents to all the good girls and boys around the world," said Mr Claus. "I'm looking forward to visiting Galway, because there are some great views out over the bay from the sleigh, although it's got a lot busier in recent years with the new commuter towns. I was never so long in Oranmore and Barna as in the last couple of years ? there are thousands of kids there now!"

Santa is as impressed with the Celtic Tiger as the rest of us, although he bemoans the fact that there are still a few gaps in the city's development.

"Well, one of the things that really gets to me is the fact that Knocknacarra still has no post office… thousands of kids have to trouble their parents at this busy time to get them to a post office outside their area. Never mind that throwing it up the chimney thing, sure most of them don't even have chimneys now! I hope it's resolved soon."

Another major issue for the man in red is the traffic in Galway. "Granted, I'm flying, and it is at a fairly quiet time of year, but the skies around here are chock-a-block? ever since they got that airport the place is gone crazy!"

Accompanied by his reindeer Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, Santa will make a pit stop at every house in Galway next Monday night and is looking forward to the treats that are left out for him every year.

"Rudolph is always the lead reindeer thanks to his wonderfully bright nose. However, I'll let you in on a little secret, he is very partial to a drop of Guinness, like myself!" he says.

"However, I have to be very careful as I believe your Gardaí are clamping down on drink drivers again this year, and rightly so. Sips of port and Guinness in every house I visit all add up you know, and it also plays hell with my co-ordination on roofs!" he adds, chuckling.

Father Christmas, as he is sometimes known, had good news for all the girls and boys around the county, as they have almost all got onto the good list and will be receiving lots of presents on Christmas Day.

Asked what kind of toys are going to be popular this year, Santa says he had watched the Late Late Toy Show to keep abreast of the latest trends.

"I've been getting a lot of requests for these 'Wee' things, whatever they are. The elves take care of a lot of the techie stuff these days, I'm not always on top of the latest developments. But there are still a lot of the basic favourites around ? dolls, trucks, cookery sets and different computer games are always going to be big."

While not everyone might get exactly what they ask for, Santa encourages children to have faith in his judgement, saying, "The girls and boys in Galway have been very well behaved this year and they will be very happy this Christmas!"

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