By Dan Walsh
New Ross Municipal District kicked into seasonal mode with the traditional Santa and Christmas Lights ‘Switch-On’ event last Saturday at 4pm.
‘Shop Local, Support Local’, the main theme of this Christmas period in New Ross.
The Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Dwyer, was joined by his fellow Cllrs of New Ross Municipal District, and Deputies Verona Murphy and George Lawlor on stage for the big moment.
The day kicked off with a Sensory Santa, specifically designed for neurodiverse children, in a space where they could enjoy a calm and welcoming environment before meeting Santa for a family photo and selection box.
The excitement really kicked in later in the evening when DJ Paul Kelly, the Rathnure Pantomime characters, and the mischievous Grinch entertained the crowds while they waited for the arrival of Santa on his sleigh.
The festivities around the Tholsel were truly magical with plenty for the gathering crowds to enjoy such as market huts run by enterprise students from some of the local district secondary schools, offering lots of seasonal gifts and treats, while the kids funfair ride and free facepainting kept the little ones entertained.
Santa arrived to the Tholsel in style, riding a sleigh pulled by New Ross Town FC and led by the talented New Ross Pipe Band. Santa’s first job was to award gift hampers filled with toys and books from local shops to the winners of the Christmas Art Competition, with the overall winner, C.J. Young, in Senior Infants in Horeswood National School, being lucky enough to join Santa in switching on the lights.
Once the lights were twinkling, the children that had gathered had the chance to meet Santa in his brand-new grotto in the newly refurbished Shambles, giving locals a sneak-peak into the area before it is officially opened to the public later this month. There was an audible gasp from the waiting crowd once the doors opened and the grotto was revealed for the first time.
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