A Co Fermanagh business has received recognition from right across the globe after a Christmas video filmed on an iPhone caught the attention of millions.
The heart-warming two minute piece was created by Charlie's Bar in Enniskillen, after manager Una Burns wanted to spread some Christmas cheer.
Lisnaskea woman Aoife Teague who filmed and edited the video on her iPhone said she has been "blown away" by the response it has received.
Speaking to Northern Sound, the 23-year-old content creator hopes that the viral video will remind others of the importance of "being kind" this Christmas, especially to those less fortunate and lonely.
“I couldn’t have imagined it would go this way,” explained Aoife. “On the Friday I had a goal in my head of a certain number of likes that I wanted the video to get to. When we posted it on the Friday night when I was going to bed, it hadn’t achieved the amount of likes that I wanted it to achieve, but when I woke up on Saturday morning my phone was flooded with messages. It’s hard to believe. A lot of people seem to resonate with the video and were very touched by it, it’s just amazing that it has received this response.”
The video's lead character is 74-year-old Martin McManus, also from Lisnaskea, who is widely known for his talents on the amateur dramatics scene with the 'Knocks' drama group. When asked about the meaning behind the video, Aoife said; “Sometimes it just takes someone to make the first move and to say hello and I hope people take inspiration from that as Christmas can be a very lonely time for a lot of people.
“We have had absolute strangers reaching out, who want to donate money behind the bar in order to buy someone a drink or food, so that when someone is feeling alone or are going through a hard time this Christmas, when they come into Charlie’s Bar they’ll know someone is thinking of them.”
Described by many as “even better” than the annual John Lewis advertisement, Aoife said it was a surreal moment when the retailer got in touch via TikTok.
“To be seen by so many different brands congratulating your work, for a young girl starting out it definitely means a lot to me,” she explained. “It’s incredible that a video which we thought would have been small and local, now means so much to people right across the world."
