Christmas cheer is expected to return to the county towns of Tyrone and Fermanagh this year as the local council’s chief executive confirmed its festive events programme would return.
At a meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Policy and Resources committee this week, the body’s chief executive Alison McCullagh said the towns would see a return to its ‘normal Christmas programme’ of events.
The council was criticised by many for its late cancellation of Halloween fireworks displays in Enniskillen and Omagh due to budget pressures.
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While its chief executive said the normal programme of events would be taking place in both towns, a council spokesperson confirmed the traditional lights switch-on events would not be taking place.
In Wednesday’s meeting, council chair Barry McElduff asked the chief executive to provide assurances that Christmas events will be going ahead.
“There’s very significant public interest in the detail relating to our planned activities for Christmas,” Cllr McElduff said.
“I’m aware that the council in rural areas does support to varying degrees smaller towns, villages and other settlements with Christmas trees etc.
“I wanted to seek assurance regarding both main towns, Omagh and Enniskillen. I think our information needs to be quickly conveyed and communicated to our public, our citizens, our community, without delay.
“I want to acknowledge that a significant section of our community was unsettled by the Halloween decision, supported by some, not supported by others, the timing of the decision, all that kind of thing is of concern to people.
“We’re all aware about the very, very challenging financial environment. We’re aware to varying degrees of the scale of that and it’ll become increasingly apparent.
“We all need some Christmas cheer and we need a strong fun-filled programme which does cater for and meet the needs of the community, not least families and children.”
Ms McCullagh responded by saying a normal Christmas programme would be taking place in both towns, with lights to be switched on from Thursday, December 1.
“Yes is the short answer, we will be running our normal Christmas programme, our animations, our Saturdays, the fun-filled family events you described,” the chief executive said.
“Lights will be on from 1st December, the Saturday programmes will commence on the 3rd December.
“The model of the event is one which we have used previously and has been successfully embedded now and is well received by families and by the business community.”
***However, traditional Christmas lights switch on events which have not been seen in the towns since 2019 will not be part of the programme this year, the council has confirmed.***
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