15 November 2019, Friday
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Pic Darragh Kane
Organised by Cork City Council, the switching on of the Cork City Christmas Lights will take place this Sunday November 17th on Patrick’s Street from 6.30pm. The Christmas Lights will be switched on by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Sheehan and there is a rumored appearance of Santa!
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Sheehan said
“The countdown to Christmas truly begins with the switching on of the Christmas Lights. This wonderful free family festive event will take place at approximately 7.15pm and I invite people to come into the city to see Cork being lit up for Christmas. I would also encourage people to support Cork businesses and to shop locally for Christmas.
KC and Ross Brown who present the ‘KC and Ross in the Morning’ radio show will MC the Switching on of the Christmas Lights.
Ireland’s leading pop music school, The Academy of Popular Music will perform much-loved Christmas songs including White Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Fairytale of New York. Students from The Academy of Popular Music, have previously performed on the Late Late Toy Show, the Voice of Ireland, and Cork’s Got Talent.
They will be joined on stage by members of the Cork Deaf Community Choir who will sign using Irish sign language a selection of Christmas songs. Throughout the evening ISL Irish Sign Language Services will be on offer, and patrons with additional mobility needs will be accommodated close to the stage.
Due to the large volume of people who annually attend the Switching on of the Christmas Lights, members of the public are being asked to give themselves plenty of time to come into Cork City on Sunday. Normal Sunday parking restrictions will apply and traffic wardens will be on duty. Some additional road closures and lane restrictions will be in place from 12 noon to 9.30pm on the day, so drivers are advised to check the website. Park and Ride will operate on a Monday to Friday frequency from 11am-9pm from Black Ash to Lapps Quay, and with the last Bus leaving the City Centre at 8.30pm.
Pic Darragh Kane
See www.corkchristmascelebration.ie for details on parking in the city.
The switching on of the Christmas Lights will kick start the city’s seasonal celebrations and a big promotional drive by Cork City Council and the Cork Business Association encouraging people to shop in Cork and to shop locally for Christmas.
Cork will be transformed into a festive wonderland with the opening of GLOW on Friday November 29th which will run for four weekends in the build-up to Christmas.
