'Up in smoke': Limerick councillor questions spend on fireworks for New Year's Eve

THERE were fiery exchanges in Limerick’s council chamber over the projected spend on the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, which aim to ring in 2018 with a bang.

“I am all for celebrating but this is not good enough, €40,000 going up in smoke in three or four minutes,” Fianna Fail’s Eddie Ryan said when he was told at Monday’s full meeting of Limerick City and County Council at County Hall how much the authority planned to spend on fireworks for New Year’s Eve. 

But Cllr Daniel Butler FG disagreed with the local councillor from Galbally.

“The response has been very positive,” he said.

He was glad, Cllr Butler said, that the fireworks event was back on after a gap since the 2014 City of Culture was launched on December 31, 2013.

“People are coming to visit our city and enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Yes, it costs money but it adds to the ambience and is what a city should be offering.”

It was “great value for money” in his opinion, given the bed-nights he would expect to lead from it. 

His party colleague, Cllr Elenora Hogan agreed.

“We needed to be upping the game and giving a better offering,” she said, and she hoped it would be the start of even more family and all-age entertainment.

“I see this as possibly a big night for Limerick.” 

“It is New Year’s Eve once a year,” commented Cllr Gerald Mitchell FG. “I have no objection to €40,000 being spent on fireworks.”