‘The craic, fun and the banter between everybody was electrifying’

There was an early start in An Clochán Liath on Saturday morning as volunteers prepared the town for the Christmas festivities.

With the new committee in place to sort the Christmas lights just a matter of days, driven by Seamus Price and Charlene McGuinness, and the old one more than willing to help, there was a great sense of community spirit.

“Never before have we seen such a gathering like this on the main street,” local councillor from Na Gleannta Municipal District, Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig, said.

“At 6am, dozens of people landed with a spring in their feet, eager to get stuck in to put up this year's 2026 Christmas lights - people excited to get the ladders out and get the lights up.

“Then around 9, 10 o'clock, the local businesses opened their doors to invite all who volunteered and gave up their time to come in for their coffees and their breakfast.

“From the Midway to the Hook Coffee Shop, JAAR Coffee, the Cope and many other businesses were very keen to be a part of this very successful day of volunteering. Thanks to the locals who gave out their cherry pickers, wood, cable ties, you name it. We do apologise to any local businesses we inconvenienced at this busy time.

“One volunteer has said that for all the years living in the town, it's been a good while since she felt such excitement and joy and was so happy and proud to be a part of what happened today.

“The new committee, which was formed over this last week or so, was Seamus Price and Charlene McGuinness, who took the reins after the former committee had stepped back and off they went to organise and mobilise the community. And they've done this with such success.

“The previous committee were there, driving up and down the road, giving encouragement to the newly formed committee. And they're so happy to see this work continuing. It was such a vibrant buzz.