Vicky Phelan to switch on Limerick's Christmas lights

LIMERICK campaigner Vicky Phelan and her family will be guests of honour at this year’s ‘Light Up Limerick’ event, the official switching on of Limerick's lights to mark the start of the Christmas season.

Ms Phelan and her family will be joined by Elsa, Anna and Olaf from Frozen to officially transform the city into a magical wonderland on Sunday November 18. 

“I am honoured that my family has been asked to turn on the Christmas lights in Limerick this year,” Ms Phelan said. 

“It means an awful lot to me to be asked. My children absolutely love everything to do with Christmas so to be chosen to get Christmas started for such a special event will really get them in the Christmas spirit very early.”

Thousands of people are expected to attend the ‘Light up Limerick’ event, organised by Limerick City and County Council, set to take place on O’Connell Street from 4.30pm on Sunday November 18. 

Details of the Council’s Christmas marketing campaign have also been revealed, with the award winning Toots Christmas Train set to arrive in Limerick for the festive season. 

Starting at King John’s Castle, the Toots Christmas Train will travel around the city centre allowing families to experience the line up of festive events planned for the city which include traditional food and craft markets, entertainment and the Christmas lights.

Other festive events planned for the city include King John’s Castle Magical Christmas, a gingerbread factory and Santa’s Postbox at the Hunt Museum, the return of Limerick On Ice, Christmas at the Milk Market and a winter busking competition on Upper William Street. 

As part of Christmas in Limerick, hundreds of additional free car parking spaces will also be provided with Park & Strides and Park & Rides available around the city.  

New sites this year include the Irish Rail Depot, Great National South Court Hotel in Raheen and University of Limerick.

Details about what’s on in Limerick at Christmas will be available from Sunday November 18 with 100,000 'Christmas in Limerick' brochures to be distributed across the Mid-West.