This year’s Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture has seen its best event to date with thousands flocking into the Dundalk town centre and enjoying a packed two day programme of events. Friday’s event had something for everyone. There was the official opening of Dundalk on Ice and the switching on of the town’s Christmas Tree lights with the honours falling to Louth Cathaoirleach , Cllr Oliver Tully along with Dundalk FC Manager Stephen Kenny.
In fact Stephen had travelled from Donegal with his family to make sure he was there to celebrate with the Dundalk Festival goers.
Titan the Robot received a rapturous welcome back to Dundalk and a lot of families made sure they were in the town for his performances over the weekend both at the Market Square and in Marshes Shopping Centre. The street performers were outstanding as they entertained the many people on the streets who were availing of the fantastic offers both at the Craft and Food markets and via the many special offers town centre businesses were offering over the Festival.
Animal lovers flocked to the Animal Farm and brought their pets in for the special Blessing of the Animals ceremony, with all donations going to the Louth SPCA.
The Festival fireworks were a sight to behold and Santa’s arrival on the huge Kenworth truck had children staring wide eyed as the man in red had given the reindeers some time off before their big Christmas run.
Speaking on the success of the Festival, organising committee member Harry Traynor of Marshes Shopping Centre said “This year’s Festival was definitely worth all the hard word and demonstrates how year on year Dundalk is improving.
“With top class acts such as Titan, a premier Dundalk on Ice facility, fantastic Festival fireworks, Voice of Ireland winner Brendan McCahey, Dundalk put on a Festival equal if not far superior to other parts of the country.”
Fellow Committee member, Martin Mc Elligott was equally impressed by the Festival’s success. “This has been a fantastic Christmas experience and it was tremendous to see retailers coming together as a community, being involved in the Festival’s organisation and/or offering promotional discounts to Festival goers.
“Hopefully the positivity created over the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture will carry on to Christmas and beyond.”
The Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture organising committee would like to thank those who generously sponsored and supported the weekend Festival. Without their sponsorship, The Festival, would quite simply, not have happened.
Thanks to sponsors, supporters and festival goers. Appreciation goes to: Louth County Council, Marshes Shopping Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk BIDS, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Dundalk on Ice, Dundalk Tidy Towns, PetSafe and Haribo.
Thanks also to the media for their promotion of the event, all the Dundalk Festival of Light & Culture Facebook followers and tweeters and to the retailers and of course, those who attended, were entertained and shopped locally.
