Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture deemed a huge success

This year’s Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture has seen its best event to date with thousands flocking into the Dundalk town centre and enjoying a packed two day programme of events.

Friday’s event had something for everyone. There was the official opening of Dundalk on Ice and the switching on of the town’s Christmas Tree lights with the honours falling to Louth County Council chairman Cllr Oliver Tully along with Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny.

In fact Stephen had travelled from Donegal with his family to make sure he was there to celebrate with the Dundalk Festival goers.

Titan the Robot received a rapturous welcome back to Dundalk and a lot of families made sure they were in the town for his performances over the weekend both at the Market Square and in the Marshes Shopping Centre.

The street performers were outstanding as they entertained the many people on the streets who were availing of the fantastic offers both at the Craft and Food markets and via the many special offers town centre businesses were offering over the Festival.

Animal lovers flocked to the Animal Farm and brought their pets in for the special Blessing of the Animals ceremony, with all donations going to the Louth SPCA.

The Festival fireworks were a sight to behold and Santa’s arrival on the huge Kenworth truck had children staring wide eyed as the man in red had given the reindeers some time off before their big Christmas run.

Speaking on the success of the Festival, organising committee member Harry Traynor of Marshes Shopping Centre said: “This year’s Festival was definitely worth all the hard word and demonstrates how year on year Dundalk is improving.

“With top class acts such as Titan, a premier Dundalk on Ice facility, fantastic Festival fireworks, Voice of Ireland winner Brendan McCahey, Dundalk put on a Festival equal if not far superior to other parts of the country.”

Fellow Committee member, Martin McElligott was equally impressed by the Festival’s success.

“This has been a fantastic Christmas experience and it was tremendous to see retailers coming together as a community, being involved in the Festival’s organisation and/or offering promotional discounts to Festival goers.

“Hopefully the positivity created over the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture will carry on to Christmas and beyond.”

The Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture organising committee would like to thank those who generously sponsored and supported the weekend Festival. Without their sponsorship, the festival would quite simply not have happened.

Appreciation goes to: Louth County Council, Marshes Shopping Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk BIDS, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Dundalk on Ice, Dundalk Tidy Towns, PetSafe and Haribo.

Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture 2014 now only days away

Excitement is building as the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture 2014 is now only days away.

The Festival, heralding the official start of Dundalk’s Christmas celebrations takes place this Friday and Saturday, November 28th & 29th kicking off on the Friday evening with Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny, and Louth County Council Cathaoirleach, Oliver Tully officially switching on the town centre’s Christmas illuminations as well as performing the official opening of Dundalk on Ice.

Titan the Robot, is set to make a triumphant return to Dundalk this year and will be making appearances with his ultimate family entertainment comedy show over both days of the Festival, at the Market Square, and also at The Marshes Shopping Centre.

Also taking place over the two days will be the Animal Farm on the Demesne. Sponsored by PetSafe, visitors to the farm will see many different animals including chickens, giant rabbits, pygmy goats, pet sheep, llama, alpaca, as well as a small falabella pony and cart.

On Saturday afternoon, festival goers can also take their own pets along for a special animal blessing ceremony. This free Animal Farm has the full support of the Louth Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and donations to this very worthwhile local cause would be very much appreciated.

Mums and Dads don’t forget that this year there is also a special Letter to Santa Postbox this year.

Young letter writers should, if possible, attach a contact e-mail as Santa has agreed to take some time out to reply to the letters via e-mail.

The popular Christmas Markets continue at this year’s festival. A craft market featuring the best of local crafts is to be housed in the Clanbrassil Centre while around the Market Square, the aroma of seasonal spices and flavours of the food market will fill the air.

A Festival stage will be located over on the Courthouse side of the Market Square, where there will be live entertainment over the two days of the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture.

The ever popular Blue Moose will headline the live music on Friday, while special guest on the night will be Voice of Ireland winner Brendan McCahey.

Free entertainment for all ages will be held throughout the town including fire eaters, unicyclists and other street performers along with carousels and a disco dome for the children.

A new feature this year which will help people travel easily around the town centre festival attractions is the Festival Train – a unique way to travel along the festival’s key route and take in all that the festival has to offer.

The Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture continues through to Saturday evening and will conclude with the now traditional fireworks display at the Marshes Shopping Centre lighting up the town skyline and also including the arrival of Santa via a huge Kenworth truck, the biggest truck Dundalk has ever seen.

The Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture Committee is working away in the background as the final countdown to this year’s Festival continues.

Committee member Harry Traynor of the Marshes Shopping Centre said: “There’s been a number of months hard work put in to making sure we can offer the best Festival experience over the two days.

“We’ve catered for all tastes and I am sure that there is something to suit everyone in this year’s programme.

“All I can say at this point is that I hope as many people as possible turn out, enjoy the weekend and support the Festival and Dundalk Town Centre.”

Committee member, Edel O’Mahony, Dundalk BIDS Manager said she is looking forward to a fantastic weekend to start Dundalk’s Christmas season.

“The retail community in Dundalk has made the Festival of Light & Culture possible and I would remind people that supporting local business boosts the local economy further and gives increased stability to our local workforce

“I hope everyone enjoys the festival experience, whilst also reminding people that we can all benefit in one way or another from supporting local Christmas business community initiatives.”

Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture is funded and supported by the following without whose generosity holding this community event would not be possible: Louth County Council, Marshes Shopping Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk BIDS, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Dundalk Tidy Towns, PetSafe, Haribo.

The Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture programme is now available in various retail outlets throughout Dundalk including The Marshes Shopping Centre and Dundalk BIDS Office/Dundalk Tourist Office.

Santa Post Box coup for Dundalk Festival of Light

Throughout the country many children are already writing to Santa, getting their orders in early.

This year children can send their Letters to Santa, free of charge via North Pole Mail from a special Santa Post Box to be located by the Dundalk BIDS office at the Market Square, as part of the Festival of Light & Culture celebrations taking place on Friday and Saturday, November 28th and 29th.

The Festival Committee along with sponsors, Haribo, have been in contact with Santa’s headquarters and it has been confirmed that Santa will reply to each letter accompanied by a contact e-mail address.

Speaking on the coup for the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture, Harry Traynor, Marshes Shopping Centre said: “We are delighted that even at the busiest time of the year for Santa he has agreed to give whatever free time he has to e-mailing the children who post their Christmas letters at the special letter box during the Festival.

“We are also thrilled with the support from Dundalk based Haribo, who have agreed to share some of Santa’s favourite sweets with the boys and girls who take the time to write a letter and visit the Post Box.

Santa’s Post Box is just one of the numerous attractions laid on by the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture with children in mind.

In recent years ice skating in Dundalk has been a great hit with children so expect more fun to be had at the real Dundalk on Ice rink, fully enclosed to protect skaters from the elements.

Titan the Robot will also be making a number of appearances at the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture with a performance sure to entertain the large number of children expected at the Festival

Children’s amusements will be located in the town centre and there’s sure to be a great interest amongst young animal lovers in the Animal Farm on the Demesne, sponsored by PetSafe and in aid of the Louth SPCA.

After all the Festival fun, small feet can get tired so why not take the children on a trip around Dundalk via the Festival Train.

Of course on Saturday, children can enjoy the Festival fireworks at the Marshes Shopping Centre, followed by the arrival of Santa in full splendour via a Kenworth Truck, the largest truck ever to be seen not only in Dundalk, but in Ireland.

Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture is funded and supported by the following: Louth County Council, Dundalk Bureau de Change, Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk BIDS, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Dundalk Tidy Towns, PetSafe, Haribo, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk on Ice

Dundalk FC show support for Festival of Light & Culture

Members of Dundalk FC supporting the Dundalk Festival of Light and Culture at the Crowne Plaza on Saturday. Pictured from left: Fiona Cunningham, Dane Massey, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Ciaran Bond, John Mountney, Edel O’Mahony, Kurtis Byrne, Gabriel Sava and Sinead Roche

Given the huge support that the people of Dundalk had shown Dundalk FC in a hugely successful season, the SSE Airtricity League champions took time out from their major celebrations on Saturday to show their support for another local success story – The Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture.

Just before they took to the open top bus to parade through Dundalk, and in the midst of an amazing atmosphere during which the players met waiting fans, signed autographs and posed for photographs, the players joined festival organisers Edel O’Mahony, Fiona Cunningham and Sinead Roche to find out what is in store for festival goers on Friday and Saturday, November 28^th & 29^th.

Speaking afterwards, Dundalk BIDS Manager Edel said the Festival of Light committee were thrilled with the Dundalk FC endorsement.

“Saturday was such a great day for Dundalk FC, despite the weather, and we were so happy that they took some time out to meet with us and show their support for Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture.

“They realise the amazing confidence that the people of Dundalk had placed in them and they understand that for anything to be a success there must be support.

“It wasn’t just a photo opportunity for them. They were full of questions asking when was the Festival on, what would be happening etc. They really got into the spirit of supporting Dundalk this Christmas.”

The Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture takes place throughout the Dundalk town centre on Friday & Saturday, November 28^th & 29^th.

Highlights include the official switching on of the town centre illuminations and the official launch of Dundalk on Ice.

Titan the Robot will be making a triumphant return to the Market Square and the Marshes Shopping Centre, while a new feature this year will be a free Animal Farm sponsored by PetSafe with a donation request in aid of Louth SPCA.

Also new this year is the Letter to Santa Postbox to be located on the Market Square by the BIDS office.

 

The live music line up is nearing completion with Blue Moose headlining Friday night, and a special appearance due from The Voice of Ireland winner, Brendan McCahey.

Street entertainment has been placed high on the Festival list of priorities. There’ll be a circus atmosphere as people throng around the attractions including the fantastic Christmas Markets, with street entertainment provided by Babcock and Bobbins, featuring fire juggling, unicycling, stilt walking and fire breathing.

Also performing throughout the town centre streets will be The Afrikan Warriors, displaying tradition Tanzanian acrobatics combined with music humour and astonishing moves.

The Festival train will weave its way around Dundalk’s streets from the Festival’s core points on the town centre and in the Marshes Shopping Centre, which is also the location for the Festival fireworks for the closing of the Festival on Saturday evening.

Dundalk Festival of Lights is funded and supported by the following: Louth County Council, Dundalk BIDS, Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk on Ice, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Dundalk Tidy Towns, Dundalk Bureau de Change, PetSafe and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.