Laois town wins big grant to light up streets for Christmas

Mountmellick Christmas Street Lights Committee have won a vital grant to light up the Laois town this year, just in time to save the season.

The committee manage the Christmas lights festooning the town, except for the tree which is handled by a separate committee.

They are delighted to be approved for LEADER funding through Connect Laois for €21,010 to upgrade the lights, covering 75% of the cost.

“Our Christmas Street Lights had to be switched off early last year after the existing festoon cables reached the end of their lifespan.

“We have been successful in our LEADER funding application to Connect Laois for funding towards this year’s display. Contracts for the grant aid were signed on Monday 2nd November.”

“We have been awarded just over €21,000 to purchase almost 3 kilometres of new festoon cable and 5,500 new coloured bulbs. The grant covers 75% of the project cost, with the remaining funding having been accumulated through our fundraising efforts over the past number of years.

“We wish to acknowledge the support in respect of the project of Connect Laois CLG, the Minister and the Department of Rural & Community Development and the European Union,” the committee say.

They have announced three fundraisers to ensure they have savings for the future.

“While this is fantastic news, it has effectively exhausted our reserves and we are back to zero money wise, which means we will continue our fundraising efforts to ensure the long-term future of the lights.”

“We are very grateful to the Mountmellick Macra Truck & Tractor Run Committee who are donating the proceeds of this year’s Run to the Committee and to the Rosenallis Tug of War Team and Junior Dowling who are holding a Tug of War contest in aid of the Street Lights on 5th December in Mountmellick, further details on both events will follow.”

“Our fundraising weekend takes place this weekend with our annual collection in Supervalu and our Church Gate Collection. Thank you to everyone who continues to support our fundraising events, Memory Tree, sponsors and volunteers. Your support is helping to ensure that Mountmellick can continue to shine brightly each Christmas for residents and visitors alike.”

They explain in detail what works are done and still needed.

“All six of our electrical control boxes which supply the Street lights have now been upgraded to a very high standard and are once again fully RECI certified. These essential works have come at a significant cost but were necessary to safeguard the Christmas Street lights for years to come.”

“We remain extremely grateful to Mountmellick Credit Union for their continued support. Not only do they provide annual sponsorship, but they have also extended a loan facility to the committee to help cover the upfront costs associated with the grant and the additional expenses we have incurred.

“Further work still lies ahead, including checking and repairing the existing streetlight brackets throughout the town”

“In addition, we are seeking someone who may be able to repair our much-loved Happy Christmas Mountmellick sign, which traditionally hung at the bottom of the town. Unfortunately, it stopped working last year and the company from which it was originally purchased has since retired.”

“We are also exploring the possibility of installing decorative light fixtures on the street lamps in O’Connell Square and at the Arts Centre, and costing for these works is currently underway. This might be phase 2 for next year, but we are always thinking ahead.”

The Committee is also hoping to extend the Christmas Street lights in two additional areas of the town. Before progressing any further, however, they intend on contacting the homeowners involved to seek their consent.

“Due to essential maintenance of electrical boxes, electricity costs and other maintenance costs, we estimate that it will cost approximately €10,000 to run the town’s street lights this year. Some of this expenditure this year will be a once off and we will really see the benefit of the grant and new infrastructure next year. The grant covers the lighting cable and light bulbs only."