New version of famous Laois Christmas tree in the plans

Mountmellick in Laois was once famous for its towering Christmas tree structure, and a new version is on the way.

While this year the town will once again see a simple but beautiful real tree in O'Connell Square, the opinions of the community are being listened to, to revive a version of the former tree.

The 60 foot metal framed structure that was covered in real branches and complex light sequences, shone brightly in the town at Christmas time, in various forms for some 60 years, driven by a local committee.

The date for this year's light up is confirmed by chair of the Mountmellick Christmas Tree committee, Cllr Paddy Buggy.

He told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the big night will again coincide with the Late Late Toy Show.

"The tree is being lit at 7pm on Friday, December 5. It is arriving that Monday morning to be put up. 

"It will be a smaller tree this year, 25 foot, but it will be a natural tree. It is smaller because we didn't want to ask people for money, so it is within our means. We held a big fundraiser four years ago and people were very generous, so we are using the last of that pot of money," he said.

2026 will see the dawn of a new permanent Christmas tree structure, replacing the rusted steel structure that had to be demolished for safety reasons in 2023. 

"The majority of local people would love to see a replica of the Christmas tree. We have taken that on board and we hope to do a new structure. It will cost a good bit so we will start fundraising in 2026 and be asking people to contribute," Cllr Buggy said. 

He hopes the community will come out to count down the big light up.

"We are asking everyone to come along," Cllr Paddy Buggy said.

One special person will be greatly missed. The maker of the Christmas crib and co-founder of the committee, Brian Lynch, passed on last March.

2024 was his last Christmas to jointly turn on the tree with his brother Ger, also a founding committee member. 

See photos of the 2024 Mountmellick tree switch on here.

"All the figures of the crib, handpainted by Brian and stored at his home, will again be placed in the crib," Cllr Buggy said.

The Mountmellick Christmas Tree committee won a grant of €50,000 from the Creative Climate Action Fund in 2023 to design a more environmentally friendly replacement for their tree. 

Mountmellick Christmas street lights, run by a separate committee, will also turn on with the lighting of the tree.