More than 2,000 people visit Mullingar On Ice on the opening weekend

On Friday November 23 at 3.10pm, Mullingar’s first ice skating rink opened to the public after months of hard work from the team in Mullingar Chamber. 

The rink is a built over the pond in Mullingar Town Park and has already attracted over 2,000 skaters, visitors and onlookers into the centre of Mullingar.

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Head of marketing at WinterFest Mullingar, Colm Baker, said: “We are delighted to have opened our doors this weekend and are overwhelmed with the support from the community. 

“It’s really rewarding to see so many happy faces, people laughing and joking with their friends and families.”

At a launch event for local businesses in the Annebrook House Hotel on Friday evening, Colm said: “We are the only ice skating rink in the midlands so there is a great opportunity for Mullingar to become the capital of Christmas festivities in the midlands and huge potential for local businesses to leverage the ice skating rink to boost their sales.

“It was notable that the first skaters on the rink were from Portlaoise – which shows both the scope of the project and the opportunity for local businesses to get their names out to new visitors to Mullingar.

“We have a range of sponsorship packages for interested businesses – it’s the perfect marketing channel for any business that wants to treat kids and families in the lead-up to Christmas or businesses such as gyms and car companies whose key sales periods are in January.”

Visitors to Mullingar Town Park are in for a treat, especially in the evenings, when the illuminated structure looks spectacular.

At the business launch, Bill Cremin, owner of Cool Running Events, noted that while he originally didn’t want to put the ice rink in the town park due to the logistical complications, he was delighted that Mullingar Chamber insisted on using the park to encourage the visitors to go into town and give local businesses a boost. 

Mullingar on Ice is open until January 6, making it the perfect festive day out for the family, an ideal stocking filler and a great way to kick-start the Christmas work parties.

The rink is open from Wednesday to Sunday, the first session on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 3.10pm and on Saturdays and Sundays 10.30am. The last session on each day is at 7.50pm. There are additional opening days and hours over the Christmas holidays.

“To get the best value ice skating tickets you need to book at iceskating.ie and you will be guaranteed a place for that session.

You can also pay at the rink but it’s a little bit more expensive and tickets may be sold out for a particular session.

Colm said for the final session each evening will be dedicated to Mullingar artists. “As everyone knows, Mullingar is famous for our musicians, and it’s a nice way to promote talented artists to the visitors, while differentiating ourselves from the big city rinks.”

The annual Christmas market takes place in Mullingar Town Park this year, on December 6-9. John Keane from Mullingar Chamber said: “Now that the skating rink has opened our attention in the chamber turns to the annual Christmas market, and we’ve made some really additions this year.

“We are delighted to have Tipi Faoi Na Realtai launch their Swedish Fika style experience where people can savour the moment while enjoying some hot drinks and treats inside their double Tipi. 

“We will also have 20 craft vendors in German wooden huts and there will also be a number of different food vendors. The team are also working on adding festive entertainment to build on the atmosphere already created in the park by Mullingar on Ice.”

Colm Baker said: “This a good news story for Mullingar and a massive coup – but it’s also an attraction that every town in the midlands wants. The reality is we are not guaranteed to have the ice skating rink every year and we will face stiff competition to bring it back to Mullingar next year.

“The people of Mullingar need to show their support, and tell everybody they know from the midlands and beyond to come ice skating in Mullingar this Christmas.”