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 Dundalk 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 28th & 29th.
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 28th & 29th. 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.
Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture takes place on Friday, November 28th & 29th.
For further details and regular programme updates ‘like’ the Facebook Page ‘Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture’ and follow the Festival of Twitter @dlkfestival
