BLAYNEY SWITCHES ON CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS

By Patsy McArdle

CASTLEBLAYNEY launched the town’s glittering Yuletide festive fare on Friday night last with the ceremonial switch-on of the annual Christmas illuminations .
Parents and excited children from all over the area gathered at the Super Valu Shopping Centre complex to await the arrival of Santa Claus, who was taxied to the area from the nearby Glencarn Hotel, by the local Fire Service.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce Mr. Patrick McFadden was joined by other members of the Chamber and by some town councillors for the official switch-on ceremony.
Celebrities in attendance included Castleblayney Chamber of Commerce Honorary Citizen Award winner 2011, Mr. Liam McGrath, and popular Irish country singer Patrick Feeney, one of the “Three Amigos”.
Mr. McFadden in welcoming everyone, said the local Chamber of Commerce was anxious to see all spheres of business in the town enjoying a good run of trade over the Chrstmas period and he commended the earnest initiative of all concerned in once again presenting Castleblayney as one of the best towns for shoppers in the entire region.
Everyone, he said, was assured of good value and a warm welcome in the town.
Mr. McFadden extended good wishes to all for a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.
The lights were switched -on by Santa Claus amid applause and cheers from young and old. Following the switch-on, goodies were distributed by Santa to all the children who were present.
Local businessman Mr. Jim McConnon of the Super Valu Shopping Centre sponsored the distribution of the goodies to the children .
Since the switch-on, the impressive street illuminations in Castleblayney have attracted much favourable comment from locals and visitors alike, and are seen as a major enhancement of the town’s image in the countdown to Christmas.
Incidentally, many of the town’s shop windows also present a very attractive inducement for shoppers, indicating an excellent range of stock at very favourable and competitive prices.
And the overall message from the town to Christmas shoppers is : there’s no need to travel Northwards this Christmas because value is BETTER in Blayney!