Dublin City will put on a wonderful light show this year when Dublin’s Winter Lighting Festival starts on Sunday 9th November with the switch on of a 15 meter high Christmas tree, covered with 100,000 lights in O’Connell Street.
This spectacular LED tree is funded by the Dublin City Business Improvement District in partnership with Dublin City Council and Dublin City Business Association.
The tree in O’Connell Street is the main centrepiece of the city’s Winter Lighting Festival. The Dublin City Business Improvement District, in partnership with the retailers, hoteliers, restaurateurs and businesses in the area, invest over €1million to erect dramatic new energy efficient Christmas street lights around the Capital. The design of the lights was chosen by the businesses in each street to suit the character of their respective areas. The new lights will be seen on Henry St/Mary St, South Anne Street, St Andrew St., Trinity Street, North Earl Street, Talbot St and South Great Georges St.
These lights compliment the new lights in Grafton Street, Wicklow Street and South Great Georges Street that appeared last Christmas. All of the lights will be on by mid November when Dublin will glow from the lights of many thousand light bulbs as part of the City’s Winter Lighting Festival.
O’Connell Street’s new Christmas tree is the tallest Christmas tree ever erected in Ireland. The 100,000 lights surround 99 glass spheres of varying sizes. The tree stands on a specially commissioned 3-meter base. The energy efficient tree was designed by Blanchere, a French firm, who also created the lighting for the Eiffel Tower. The tree will use the equivalent energy as required to boil 10 kettles (or 10 watts).
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Eibhlin Byrne, will switch on the lights on Sunday, 9th November at 6.00 pm.
Commenting on the Christmas lighting plans for the city the Lord Mayor said "Throughout Europe people begin to prepare for the Christmas festivities by enjoying light festivals and Christmas markets. I look forward to having dark winter evenings lit up by our wonderful light display in Dublin with our fabulous Christmas tree at the heart of our city.
I would like to thank the traders who have made this fantastic display possible and invite people to enjoy our city centre. Whether you want to enjoy a simple walk through the city, a coffee or serious shopping I believe that Dublin has something for all of us. Most of all take the time to savour the magic of the city and keep old traditions like "coming to town to see the lights" alive for a new generation."
The programme of events for Sunday is set to start at 4pm and will finish with the Lord Mayor turning on the lights at 6pm and will include a musical session from Ceoltas Ceoltoirí and St Andrew’s Choir, Westland Row.
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