At the end of what has been a difficult year for business, Carrigaline Musical Society, the newly established Owenabue Arts Collective and Carrigaline Business Association, are partnering with Cork County Council to bring Christmas cheer to Carrigaline in the weeks running up to Christmas.
Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of December will see these groups work together to kick-off ‘Christmas in Carrigaline’ by showcasing the variety of businesses in the town and marking the opening of the Owenabue Arts Collective’s new premises. Singers from the Carrigaline Musical Society will be making appearances around the town on both evenings and Santa’s helpers will be on hand to add some festive cheer.
Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley commended the collaborative approach to promoting the ‘Shop Local’ ethos in Carrigaline, noting that “Cork County Council, along with businesses and community groups have worked hard in 2020 to make significant improvements and offset some of the impacts of Covid-19. Operation ARCC has seen the Council support Christmas lighting in the towns and promote shop local campaigns to continue this support.”
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Mr. Tim Lucey, welcomed the initiative, in particular the establishment of the Owenabue Arts Collective as a new part of the fabric of Carrigaline, “Now is the time to see what your local town has to offer and support local retailers and producers. While I encourage people to shop locally over the coming weeks, it is important to also remind people to adhere to public health advice and shop safely.”
Chair of Carrigaline MD, Cllr Aidan Lombard acknowledged the difficulties that businesses in Carrigaline and beyond have been through this year and encouraged people to shop locally and shop responsibly. “Hopefully the Christmas period will provide local businesses with a much-needed boost. We all have a role to play in supporting our local producers and retailers this year and in doing so, we must also remember to respect public health guidance.”
Christmas in Carrigaline is part of Cork County Council’s ‘A Real Cork Christmas’ (ARCC) initiative and takes place from 6-8pm on Friday December 11th and from 4pm-7pm on Saturday December 12th.