A year on from bringing a tear to the eye with a festive advert that went viral an Enniskillen bar has returned with another emotional video with a strong message for Christmas.
Charlie’s Bar grabbed worldwide attention with its 2023 ad, which featured an elderly man being ignored in the street before joining a young couple, and their dog Missy, for a friendly chat as they shared a drink with the message: “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met yet.”
And the bar is tugging at the heartstrings again with another simple message in a new advert — which debuted online on Friday evening — which will be relevant to so many families.
“We did think long and hard about whether to let last year’s advert sit as it was as it took on a life of its own, something we never expected,” said bar owner Una Burns.
“We knew it would be difficult to top what happened last year, but the message still needs to go out and we thought if we can even bring a little comfort to one person it would be worth doing.”
This year’s advert features Mary, an elderly lady, who just before Christmas reads a letter from her husband John who died a couple of months earlier. She still has his stocking hanging over the fireplace, but she sits alone, reading the letter which reminds her Granddad is still looking down on her and the family.
The envelope includes a polaroid photograph, taken in Charlie’s Bar a year earlier, of Mary and John with their family.
Mary’s son then comes in to make sure she’s OK and takes her and his daughter to Charlie’s Bar where they can be together.
There they recreate the photograph from a year before, minus the absent John, bringing a smile to Mary’s face as she delights in the company of family.
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“The idea came from what we’ve seen in Charlie’s Bar over the years,” said Una, who ends the advert with the simple message: ‘While some celebrate, others grieve. Time to be present at Christmas.’
“We’ve had families come in together one year, the next someone is missing. It’s about making sure those who have lost a loved one are not left alone at Christmas. It might be a simple message, but it’s an important one for us all not to forget those who may be grieving at this time of year.
“Family is important. We’re a family-run business, so we thought the message was one we’d like to get across. And yes, the star of last year, Missy the dog, pops up with a special guest appearance too.”
As last year, the video was filmed on an iPhone, with one of the 2023 stars, Meagan Daley. one half of the young couple who befriended the elderly man, behind the camera.
“We did want to have some continuity in it,” explained Una.
The voiceover for John reading the letter is provided by Martin McManus, the 74-year-old retired decorator and local drama group veteran who starred as the elderly man last year’s ad.
The 2023s video message helped Charlie’s Bar raise the issue of loneliness and even caught the attention of John Lewis, famous for big budget Christmas adverts, who sent gifts to the bar for the charities they supported.
“Last year took us completely by surprise,” said Una. “It was all a bit overwhelming, but there were so many messages of support, so many kind words, and the impact was so positive.
“We weren’t that nervous about putting the video out there last year but the nerves have been kicking in all this week.
“Everyone involved is local here in the Enniskillen community. But it’s delivering a message that I hope has relevance everywhere. It doesn’t need explaining, but sometimes it does need to be said.”
Last year’s video raised over £23,000 for local charities with both Age NI and SWAP (South West Age Partnership) benefiting from the bar’s efforts. “We’re not trying to compete with last year,” added Una, “that was lightning in a bottle. This is just a little reminder that Christmas doesn’t always have to be about the material things. Sometimes you just being there is the best present anyone can get.” Una said she hasn’t got as far as deciding on any charity to support this year.
“We’re not trying to repeat the success of last year,” she added. “We’ll just put the advert out there and let it speak for itself. We hope it will strike a chord with families facing Christmas without the one they love.”
The Charlie’s Bar Christmas ad was released on the bar’s Facebook page, YouTube channel and on Instagram.