Newport man has bright ideas

A NORTH Tipperary man has launched a lone crusade to save his town from becoming a black spot over the festive season.

Truck driver Willie O’Neill warned yesterday that Newport may be left without a single Christmas street light if urgent action is not taken.

He said the neighbouring villages of Toomevara and Moneygall have fantastic Christmas lighting.

“We haven’t a thing. It’s an awful shame on the town,” he said.

“Newport is facing being in the dark for another Christmas without lights.”

Mr O’Neill said that local business people were very supportive.

“Mary Jo Sullivan offered to give the use of the biggest hall in Newport free for a benefit dance,” he said.

However, Mr O’Neill is highly critical of newcomers, who have moved to Newport, for failing to put money into the Christmas lights kitty.

“Many of these new people are no addition to Newport, and don’t support the town. They work in Limerick and just come to live in Newport and contribute nothing. They are a big problem,” he said.

At this late stage Mr O’Neill, who spoke on the Gerry Ryan radio show, said the only hope is to get some lights erected on the bridge in the town.

“We could hook them up to the electricity supply in the handball alley,” he said.

It had been hoped to draw up a five-year plan for Christmas lights.

“We only have €600 in the kitty. And with insurance and everything you need a lot more,” said.

Mr O’Neill said that if the lights for the bridge cannot be put in place, he may go ahead and erect a lit-up Christmas tree in the square.

He said a local shopkeeper would allow the tree to be connected to his ESB supply.

“Sure if you can’t have lights for the kids at Christmas, where are you going?

“Everywhere they go they see Christmas lights, but nothing in Newport. Everybody is talking about it,” added Mr O’Neill.