Santa made a very essential journey to Letterkenny last night to help light up the town at a ‘virtual’ switch-on.
The official switching on of the Letterkenny Christmas lights is an event that normally attracts between five and ten thousand people to the Main Street and Market Square. This year however, festivities were moved online with key members of the Letterkenny Chamber and Mayor Donal Coyle hosting a switch-on on Facebook Live. (Click HERE to watch)
The Market Square may have been quiet, but more than 5,000 people tuned in from their homes to celebrate the event.
Ruby Anne Mc Closkey switches on the Letterkenny Christmas Lights 2020. Photo: Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce
Ruby Anne Mc Closkey from Glenswilly National School was the lucky child chosen to light up Letterkenny this year. Ruby Anne won first place in the local schools art competition, and runner-up Amy Wiseman from Ballyraine NS also received her prize at the event.
Special guest Santa Claus, who is exempt from travel rules, paid a visit from the North Pole to tell every child in Letterkenny not to worry – it’s Christmas as usual.
As MC Keith Fletcher put it – “The show must go on” – and while there are major changes this year, the lights were lit with the help of the community to keep the festive spirit alive.
Letterkenny Chamber President Jimmy Stafford said the lights are intended to “give hope to people that we can get our retail back open, get people back to work and more importantly, for all our health and wellbeing.”
Letterkenny Chamber President Jimmy Stafford and Dj Keith Fletcher. Photo: Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce
The impressive Christmas display throughout Letterkenny was made possible this year thanks to an online fundraiser supported by the community and local businesses. The public can still donate to support the upkeep of the lights via: https://www.gofundme.com/f/light-up-letterkenny-christmas-2020
