Saturday 26 November 2016

Skibbereen - Christmas Lights


The season of Christmas light switch-ons has started. Having covered the first of the season in Cambridge last weekend, I moved from East Anglia to West Cork for the next switch-on. Sad it was that the famed Olympic silver medal-winning brothers, Gary and Paul weren't available to do the honours in their home town, but that didn't stop the crowds gathering.

Opening with a procession headed by the fire brigade, the civil defence, then assorted vintage tractors and cars, the children watched as Santa and Mrs Santa made a grand entrance in a horse-drawn carriage. Then it was down to two lucky girls from the National School to perform the honours. What a moment for them to remember.

The lights are now on and the countdown to Christmas has begun in Skibbereen.