Almost 100 Towns in Ireland agree to leave Christmas lights on until end of January By Emma Mullan In an effort to lift the nation s spirits as we face a difficult start to 2021, almost 100 towns across Ireland have agreed to leave their Christmas lights on until the end of January.
Traditionally, in a world without Covid-19 that is, we would see Christmas lights all over the country taken down on January 6th - the day that officially marks the end of the Christmas season.
But now, a campaign started by
Councillor Valerie Byrne in Elphin, Co.Roscommon has seen almost 100 towns across the country agree to leave their lights on and decorations up until the end of January in an attempt to help raise spirits as many people struggle their way through another lockdown.
She told
Newstalk Breakfast: “This Christmas we were saying we’re going into a new year, and the vaccines are on the way. Then after Christmas there was a slump because the numbers have gone up so high.
“If pubs are closed, if restaurants are closed… all the towns and villages will be very dark. If we left the lights on until the end of January, at least we’d have the days getting longer and nights getting shorter.
“It’s a bit of light and a bit of hope for someone.”
Councillor Byrne also encouraged other towns across the country to follow Elphin’s example and leave the lights up a little while longer this year.