City's Christmas lights to get a makeover
The biggest cash injection into the Christmas lights for many years promises a particularly bright and beautiful city centre over the coming years.
The Galway City Business Association (GCBA) in partnership with Galway City Council have committed €125,000 to upgrade the Christmas lights throughout the city from this year and continuing to roll out the project over the next four years.
The first phase of the new festive lights will be visible on Shop Street and Eyre Square featuring string and curtain lights, illuminated animations and Christmas trees.
In subsequent years the festive lighting will also be replaced along High Street and Quay Street and introduced in other locations pending agreement with businesses to pay a portion towards the wiring.
Businesses had hoped to roll out more of the new lighting this year but only got confirmation of the €24,000 funding from the local authority for the next five years last week.
“The businesses erect the lights which is costly affair. Our bills are in the region of €24,000 just to put them up. We then insure them, store them and maintain them,” explained GCBA spokesperson Anthony Ryan.
For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune