Bringing Christmas lights cheer to ‘vibrant and busy’ Granard for twenty years

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The Granard Christmas lights tractor run took place on Sunday, November 26 and was hailed as a resounding ‘success’.

A small committee of seven representatives organise the annual Christmas tractor run every year, a key fundraiser that helps ensure the lights are put up. Approximately 100 locals attended the event last weekend. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

The tractor run kicked off at the GAA grounds again, with Creegans pub hosting event-goers and participants afterwards.

“As usual, Creegan’s had a lovely spread for everyone, there were burgers, teas, coffees - they were selling tickets as well as part of the fundraiser events, we are raffling off a big hamper this time, and tickets are going well,” said committee member, Anna Lynch.

“Our main difficulty this year was that we have no money. We haven’t had funding since Covid and because, last year, businesses were just getting back on their feet we felt it was inappropriate to give tickets to local businesses and ask for €50 in return.

“It costs €6,000 for the lights in total, to be installed and taken down - it is a huge expense and I think that people forget that,” Anna concluded.

The Christmas lights will be turned on at a later date, around the weekend of December 9, and will attract more crowds of locals to come together to see Granard be lit up for the festive season.

Anna continued by saying it was ‘great’ to see the youth of the town attend the annual tractor run: “A lot of young people came, and a lot of young people drove tractors, it is great to see.

“The lights bring people into the town and give a festive feel of fun - we always tried to ensure that the lights will be of a high standard and this year, we purchased two new feature pieces with the little bit of money we had left in the kitty.”

The feature pieces will be erected in the middle of Granard soon. The turning on of the general lights will see Sacred Heart primary school pupils sing at the ceremony, while Fr Cadam always shows a face, too!

“We are looking forward to the new feature pieces arriving for the town centre and getting those up. It is always a lot of pressure on us, as a committee, to maintain the lights when they do go up,” Anna continued.

“They all have to be checked for safety reasons, even the little ones on the new tree, like that in Sacred Heart school - there is a lot of organising, and while the council have given us funding, it unfortunately isn’t enough.

“Fundraising is key - it is vital for the survival of the tradition of the Christmas lights here. Granard is a busy and vibrant town, when you consider other midland towns that have so many shopfronts closed, while Granard seems to be thriving. It’s a wonderful community.”