The Mayor of Ennis says the hearts of Clare people will be filled with “joy and pride” tonight following the switching-on of the Christmas lights in Ennis.
The eagerly anticipated annual event has come around once again and Santa isn’t the only high-profile special guest to be making an appearance.
The weather outside might be frightful but it’ll take more than that to dampen spirits in Ennis this evening.
Clare County Council’s annual switching-on of the Christmas lights is being held in the Abbey Street Car Park from 5pm and it’s shaping up to be a lively programme of events.
The musical entertainment will kick off at 5pm with the Vocal Ponies who’ll be followed by the Circus Ponies.
Santa Claus himself will make an appearance at 6:15pm but he’ll soon have to move aside as the most highly anticipated guests, All-Ireland winning Clare hurling legends Brian Lohan and Tony Kelly will arrive soon after with Liam McCarthy in tow.
Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran-Molloy says given she’ll be in such star-studded company, she won’t be offended if she isn’t the main attraction.
Clare FM’s own Colum McGrath will be the evening’s master of ceremonies, while Tom Carey of the Lions Club will launch the ‘Remberance Tree’, the beneficiaries of which are Milford Hospice and the Children’s Ark Paediatric unit at UHL.
With Black Friday getting underway tomorrow, a key aim of the Christmas lights ceremony is to support local businesses and to encourage people to shop locally in the coming weeks.
Clare County Council has confirmed that the public realm works in the county town will be suspended until January 6th to faciliate Christmas shopping.
Senior Coordinator of Ennis Municipal District Seán Lenihan says when you’re making your Christmas shopping list and checking it twice, it’s important to remember that Ennis is open for business.
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