As the sun sinks low on a dark winter evening and the howling winds strip leaves off the trees, a veiled woman slips down from the fairy ring at Mount Seskin. As she walks over these hills, frost glints at her footsteps and creatures from fields and woodlands flock to her side. She lifts her staff and lightning stabs the stormy skies illuminating the ravens and crows swirling around her head. Winter is truly here.

On one such dark night, this shadow of ancient times emerges again from the gloom. She moves along pathways and through the spaces between houses, rooftops and doorways. The light of the moon and stars are at her fingertips and she can see what has emerged over time in each corner of South Dublin.

Here she sees Jobstown that used to be farmland nestling in the western foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Now there are houses and schools where the energy of young people pours out of Citywise and onto the number 27 bus.  The wind blows her closer to Tallaght, once the site of an old monastery. The old mill is still there, but now a bustling town grows upwards with tall walls and glass windows. She feels that her gifts of knowledge, healing and peace are at work here. Songs and music pour out from the places where creativity and learning happen and she hears many voices speaking in Gaelic and other mother tongues from around the world.

She notices that natural life survives in the rivers and streams - the Dodder, Fettercairn, Tymon and Whitestone that flow under and alongside the man-made roads and walkways. She sees that Nature still has meaning for many people as they prepare for new spring growth in their gardens and plant pots on windowsills.

For this one night, she becomes most splendid when she hears music and voices singing. From Deansrath Community College, the spoken words of young poets ascend and unite with St Aidan’s Community College in Brookfield. Surely, this place hearkens back to a time when there were fields and farms.  Then, moving on to old Dolcan’s meadow, she finds it transformed into Clondalkin. Rising up beyond the Garda station, the take away shops and beauty salons is St. Mochua’s round tower that has endured the ages of industry, development and expansion.

She shines a light on Kingswood and melodious voices of choirs drift through the windows of the Community Centre. Her light catches all the everyday places, the industrial estates, schools, playgrounds, churches, temples, mosques, shopping centres and libraries. These are where memories are made and they are extraordinary.

The parks Tynan Hall, Ballymount, Tymon and the playing fields are green and open sanctuaries for people to walk, see family and friends at a distance and find peace. Moreover, she knows that nearby there are the remnants of magic and the old fairy tree where people leave their wishes and dreams for better, safer and happier times.

Now, because she knows that something harmful has disrupted the normal course of their lives, she shines her light on the heroes of these communities. Those who are making them safe and cared for, helping them to learn and create, keeping them fed, supplied and connected are recognised and celebrated in the beams of her light.

She is radiant when she sees so many hands of friendship and creativity silhouetted in the windows of homes, community centres and libraries. Children, families and young people have made these beautiful, illuminated signs of their goodwill and understanding. And with these gifts, she understands that the light will continue to shine even when she slips away like a swirling mist in the hollows of the hills.

In December how will you welcome this Winter visitor to your neighbourhood?