Is the new Christmas lighting display in Cork an expensive gimmick or money well spent?
The new Christmas lights on Patrick Street in Cork involves 4 kilometres of cable, 8,000 bulbs and 60 centre displays. The overall cost of the display, including installation by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), is £35,000, the most expensive Christmas lights in the Republic of Ireland.
That's a lot of money for Christmas decorations, no matter what way you look at them.
Patrick Street traders, business concerns and companies paid for the lighting display. Chairperson of the Patrick Street Business Association, John Blair, believes Cork city has the best Christmas lighting display in the country.
Despite the recession, John Blair thinks the new lights show pride in the city.
It's important that we maintain the same sort of confidence in the future.
Critics argue that the £35,000 would have been better spent on charitable causes.
The lights are beautiful, but I think less elaborate would do fine, to go to something more deserving.
John Blair points out that the traders regularly donate to charity and will continue to do so.
In general, the people of Cork welcome the Christmas lights, with many saying the display demonstrates value for money.
It gives us great joy.
The positivity generated by the lights is priceless,
There's plenty going to charity, we need a bit of light relief.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 17 December 1980. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
