Council defends early switch-on of Christmas lights

City Hall has defended the early switch-on of Cork’s Christmas lights this week.

Officials said they are responding to calls from city centre businesses who feel that turning on the festive lights encourages people to begin their Christmas shopping early.

“They have had a tough year and this is one of the ways we can give back to the rate payers,” head of corporate affairs, Valerie O’Sullivan told councillors last night.

She was responding to criticism from SF Cllr Henry Cremin after confirmation that the lights will be switched on this Thursday night.

“Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but a seven-week run-in is just too long,” he said.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for the festive lights switch-on this Thursday, and for the Glow Christmas festival.

But torrential rain forecast for Thursday could see the switch-on deferred until Friday.

Weather-permitting, eight-time All-Star winner, Briege Corkery, who captained the Cork ladies football team to All-Ireland glory, and Anna Geary, captain of the county’s All-Ireland-winning camogie team and also the Cork Rose, will flick the switch on St Patrick’s Street on Thursday. The entertainment starts at 6pm with the lights due to be turned on at 6.45pm.

I wonder what the pre-match nerves are like for @AnnaGCork and @corkery5 in the runup to Cork lights up on Thursday evening?

— Corkmas (@Corkmas_Cork) November 10, 2014

The ceremony will include entertainment by the Academy of Popular Music at the CIT Cork School of Music.

Lord Mayor Cllr Mary Shields said: “There’s always a real magic around Cork at this time of year, and for many, the turning on of the Christmas lights is when the Christmas season begins in earnest.

“I am delighted that Anna and Briege accepted the invitation to help me switch on the lights this year.

“They are truly inspirational women, and made us all very proud this year when they brought home the All-Ireland ladies football and camogie titles.”

Anna said it’s the “icing on the cake” of what’s been a wonderful year.

Briege said she used to always come in to the city as a child to watch the Christmas lights being switched on. “Every year, it brings back special childhood memories, and I am thrilled to be part of this symbolic event this year,” she said.

The city council urged people to give themselves plenty of time to get to the ceremony.

St Patrick’s Street will be closed southbound from 4pm to 9pm at the junction of Merchants Quay/St Patrick’s Street to the junction of Academy Street/St Patrick’s Street, and northbound at the junction of Washington Street/Grand Parade to the junction of Drawbridge Street/St Patrick’s Street.

The southbound lane will be open to all southbound traffic from Academy Street onwards.

Meanwhile, the Glow Christmas Festival in Bishop Lucey Park and Grand Parade, featuring a food and crafts market and a 30ft ferris wheel, will be unveiled on November 28.