Cork is Ready, Set, Glow for Christmas
14th November 2014
~Christmas kicks off in Cork City with the switch on of the Christmas Lights~
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas... as the Cork City Christmas lights in were switched on for 2014 festive season at a charming event featuring a selection of guest stars.
A definite highlight of Christmas in Cork City, the lights were switched on last night, Thursday 13th November 2014, outside Brown Thomas on St. Patrick Street by Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Mary Shields who was joined by honorary guests; champions Briege Corkery, Captain of the 2014 All-Ireland Cork Ladies Football Team, and Anna Geary, Captain of the 2014 All-Ireland Cork Camogie Team and the Cork Rose..
Anticipation was high as approx. 5,000 visitors flocked into Cork City to witness Cork City’s seasonal celebrations get under way with the official switch-on of the Christmas lights on St. Patrick Street.
The ceremony, which was MC’d by Ken Perrott from 96fm and C103; media sponsors of Glow A Cork Christmas Celebration, included entertainment by the Academy of Popular Music at the CIT Cork School of Music, Ireland’s first second level pop school. These students have already performed for President Michael D. Higgins, on The Late Late Show and The Voice of Ireland and their performance was a great additional to this local event.
Cork City’s Christmas lights are among the most famous in the country, each year attracting thousands into the City Centre over the Christmas and New Year period and Cork City Council have invested heavily in new lights for the city this year.
Valerie O’Sullivan, Director of Services of Corporate and External Affairs at Cork City Council opened proceedings by saying; “A special thank you to all who came into Cork City Centre this evening for the switch on of the Christmas Lights. A sincere thanks to Claire Nash, President and Paula Cogan, Deputy President of Cork Business Association also for joining us here today and representing the businesses of Cork. Cork City Council is delighted to present the switch on of the Christmas Lights which aims to promote Cork City as a key shopping destination and to drive footfall into the City Centre. Cork is officially open for business and may I wish everyone a pleasant time shopping in Cork this Christmas.”
Commenting on the switch on, Lord Mayor Cllr. Mary Shields said; “I am thrilled that Anna Geary and Briege Corkery 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 two major coups, the All Ireland Football and Camogie titles.”
Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Mary Shields concluded by saying; “ The Switch on of the Christmas Lights officially kicks of the Christmas Season in Cork and the countdown to Glow, A Cork Christmas Celebration which will launch in two weeks time on Friday 28th November. Glow will have something for everyone; a 30 metre Ferris Wheel, vintage carousel, a free life size Christmas book that you can wander through in Bishop Lucey Park, Food and Crafts Markets with Cork Craft and Design, where visitors can stock up on a variety of festive goodies and gifs, Carols by Candlelight event, and much more.”
Soaking up the colour and festive cheer, at the official switch on of the Christmas Light, were Tracy Cullen, Shauna Noonan and Olivia Hayes of CIT Cork School of Music, Academy of Popular Music as well as Ben Connor and his dad John Connor.
See www.glowcork.ie for details.
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