CHRISTMAS spirit has officially landed in Gort with the 2024 Christmas Lights now shining bright.
A huge crowd gathered in the town square for the official turning on of the lights ceremony recently.
Live music together from the Music Generation Pulse Drum Group brought an upbeat musical and festive atmosphere and of course Santa made a quick stop to say hi to all the kids.
The Gort Scouts group helped Santa turn on the lights and all at once Christmas came to town.
The main feature of the Christmas display was a 10 metre high tree in the square. Also included in the town decorations were two smaller trees, 2km of street lighting and over 30 feature pieces around the town. It’s safe to say, a lot of work goes into decorating the town every year and this year has been no exception.
The Elves gang have been seen out in all weather from early November getting the town ready for Christmas celebrations. This year they were brilliantly assisted by the folks at Anderson Painting who were simply unbelievable in enthusiasm and energy.
Christmas lighting is an integral part of every town’s Christmas necessities. The Gort Christmas Lights team believe that a good festive vibe attracts visitors and encourages locals to shop local also. Local businesses in satellite towns like Gort face a harsh battle every year against city and internet shopping and anything that can help them is worth it.
Aside from the financial benefits everyone from adult to child loves the feel of a hearty Christmas lit town. Of course none of this comes cheap and the Christmas In Gort team not only have to roll their sleeves up and work hard but each year they must put out their hand out too as donations from local residents and business owners is the only way they can keep going.
Running costs, repairs, renting equipment, buying new lights, paying professionals etc all come together and add up. Each year the do- nations come thick and fast; the positivity is heartwarming. The group run a ‘Buy A Bow’ fundraiser also where for just €5 anyone can have a personal message to a lost loved one or someone you’re thinking of placed on their ‘Thinking Of You’ Tree outside St. Colmans Church. This is immensely popular everywhere and their stall at Minihanes SuperValu each November is a common sight. Bows can
still be purchased or indeed much needed donations made simply by calling into Gort Credit Union.
It may be hard work but the Elves always have a great laugh in hail, rain or hopefully snow, the banter with locals around the town and the patience shown as traffic is held up is
always much appreciated.
The group have a Facebook page ‘Christmas in Gort’ for full info or how to contribute and they asked that a special thank you go out to everyone that helps in any way and to those local businesses that offer teas and coffee and snacks as they work away in the late evenings. The offers of Stout from publicans must be refused while work is in progress
but they are happy to take up the offers when complete.
While the lights are officially on, more work still has to be done with some new pieces yet to go up and continued running repairs.
Local electrician Aidan O’Grady can be seen very active at all hours and his help is
vital and much appreciated. Gort certainly looks very festive and the hard work has paid off. In just a few short weeks, the elves will be off out again to take everything down, carefully, in order and stack them away till Christmas 2025. So make sure to stop by the town to enjoy all of the festive cheer Gort has to offer.
