Limerick towns light up the night with Christmas cheer

THE LIGHTING up of all the Christmas lights in Newcastle West takes place this Friday, after a one-year hiatus for the Limerick town.

The official switching-on ceremony of the lights and the Christmas tree will take place at Desmond Castle in the centre of the town at 5pm on Friday.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan are leading the ceremony, which will be a “free family fun event” and which will “kick off the festive season for the people of Newcastle West” and the surrounding areas.

Minister O’Donovan, who lives in the town, said: “Christmas is such a wonderful time of year for everyone, that all begins with the lighting up of the Christmas tree.

“I invite you all to come along and witness this very special occasion and to start this festive season in Newcastle West mingling with your family, neighbours and friends.”

Local councillor Michael Collins, added that he is “delighted” that the full set of Christmas lights are making a return this year.

“I’m delighted that we will have a full collection of lights up this year - last year, we had difficulty in securing an electrician but this year, we have gotten someone secured who has started the installation.

In Pictures: Limerick shopping centre lights up for Christmas

“I want to compliment everybody involved and have secured the display. We got funding a couple of years ago and it was just last year that we hit a bit of a bump in the road - thankfully it is all sorted for this year.”

The former Mayor added that he equates the turning on of the Christmas lights as the start of the Christmas season in the county Limerick town.

“We pride ourselves on having a good selection of shops and businesses in the town and look forward to the festive season coming around.

“The traders and I are looking forward to the Christmas tree and lighting up the town and having a successful shopping period.”

Several other locations dotted around Limerick are set to have ceremonies this coming weekend to switch on their Christmas lights and trees

This includes Croom where the lights will be switched on in the village at around 5pm on Saturday evening.

The Christmas lights were turned on in Castleconnell last weekend while other towns and villages have announced they will have switching on ceremonies the weekend after next.

A number of Christmas markets and fairs will also take place in communities across Limerick throughout December as the seasonal festivities continue.