Mullingar joins 'light at end of tunnel' movement

Mullingar is one of the towns that will keep its Christmas lights on longer to help lift people’s spirits as the third Covid-19 lockdown takes effect.

The committee who co-ordinated the fundraising for, and the installation of, the lights has this week contacted representatives of the nine streets in the town where the lights were placed, and all have agreed that the lights will stay on till Monday January 25.

That is two weeks longer than was originally planned for, John Cochrane, a member of the committee told the Westmeath Examiner.

The county town thus joins a nationwide movement to keep the lights on. (https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0107/1188263-christmas-lights-campaign/)

One Westmeath councillor was switched on when she proposed the idea at the December meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.

This week Cllr Emily Wallace said: “Leaving the lights on in January, while Level 5 restrictions are in place, would be an active sign of support for closed businesses, frontline workers and all who are affected by Covid-19, and it would be lovely to see all towns and villages do likewise where possible.

“You don’t realise how much life those lights are bringing in to your towns until they’re turned off, and it’s been such a hard year, especially at Christmas when families weren’t able to meet up, and now we’re in a third lockdown.

“It would be just to keep that light of hope, shall we say, and to show there is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccines coming on stream.”

Cllr Wallace says the festive lights would help improve the mood when people are shopping locally, when they’re out for walks in the evenings.

“It’s about supporting each other,” she said.

Clonmellon Community Council are on board, and have posted the following no their Facebook page: “Clonmellon Community Council have been having a (socially distanced) chat and think it would be a great idea to join the ‘Light At The End Of The Tunnel’ campaign.

"The idea is to leave the village Christmas lights on until the end of January to highlight the start of Covid-19 vaccination in Ireland and hopefully the beginning of a return of some sort of normality.”

Cllr Wallace paid tribute to her colleagues on the Mullingar enhancement committee for having the town looking so well, and said she encourages everyone to shop local: “I know that under the restrictions a lot of money has gone into shop and business owners getting online, and where you can, where possible, please shop local online, for Westmeath.

“I think that is going to be very important for when businesses can open their doors again.”