Bah, humbug – no Christmas lights for Graiguecullen again
Graiguecullen
GRAIGUECULLEN will once again be left without Christmas lights this year, despite calls from councillors at the latest meeting of Carlow Municipal District to extend the festive display across the bridge.
Members heard that the tender for this year’s Christmas lights had been completed and that testing of the lights began ahead of installation. Work is due to begin this week, with lights going up throughout the town ahead of the official switch-on at 7.30pm on 28 November.
Cllr John Cassin raised the issue of expanding the lights into Graiguecullen to cover streets there, noting that the request had been made previously. “Can we take a serious look at the expansion of lights into Graigue to bring them into the Christmas spirit? I don’t think it would be a huge cost,” he said.
However, the meeting heard that the estimated cost of lights alone for Marlborough Street was approximately €15,000.
“I got a quote … and it doesn’t even cover the connection,” said Cian Madden, area engineer with Carlow Co Council.
“Can we find the €15/20k to bring the lights over the bridge?” cllr Cassin asked.
Cllr Fintan Phelan supported the call. “They’re overdue,” he said, while also suggesting upgrades along Kennedy Avenue, where many businesses are located.
In response, members were told there would be no extensions this year. The budget from the Local Enterprise Office for 2026 would likely not even cover the full cost of the existing Christmas lights set-up, while all procurement had already been completed, meaning the areas covered were fixed for this year.
Mr Madden suggested, however, that the matter could be looked at for next year.
