'great reaction' Christmas lights to be left up in Roscommon town to 'cheer up' locals

A Roscommon town’s idea to keep their Christmas lights on throughout January to give people a ‘bit of hope’ amid a third lockdown has got a great reaction online.

Today, is traditionally the day many people across the country take down their festive lights and decorations, as January 6 marks the end of the Christmas season.

But Roscommon Councillor Valerie Byrne says leaving the lights up in Elphin is one small way of giving people a lift this month.

She says so many people had commented positively about the lights since they were switched on in December that she asked the local committee if they could be left on for the next numbers of weeks.

The Independent councillor says that with so many businesses closed again under the latest Covid restrictions, many villages and smaller towns are darker than usual.

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.

People have reacted favourably on Facebook with one person writing: ‘It’s a great idea hope other towns do the same’.

Another added: ‘Fantastic idea especially this year with all the doom and gloom. I have decided to keep my tree up too.’

One person added: ‘Great idea, wish Roscommon town would do it too.’

One added: ‘Could be a good idea for Carrigallen to brighten the place up in January, just an idea, obviously more expensive with esb’.

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Online Editors