Cork will not host a Christmas lights switch-on event due to crowd safety concerns

There hasn't been a Christmas lights switch-on event in four years.

Cork is not hosting a Christmas lights switch-on event this festive season. According to The Irish Examiner, Council Chief Executive Ann Doherty cited public safety and crowd management as the reasons for not hosting an event specifically for the lights. The numbers of those attending an event such as this had grown unmanageable by the last year it was held, which was 2019. St Patrick's Street, where the switch-on event previously took place, is not believed to be able to accommodate the numbers that would arrive.

Solas

Instead for the 2023 festive season visitors can expect to see an all-new magical immersive light experience in the public plaza called Solas. This will be the centre-piece of Cork’s Christmas offering, and will open to the public from Saturday, November 18 at Emmet Place. The ferris wheel will also return to Grand Parade from November 24th. Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy said this of Christmas time in Cork:

"Christmas in Cork always brings a strong sense of nostalgia and a time for family or friends. Come into Town. Meet up and catch up with old friends. Take in a different view of the city from the top of the ferris wheel. Enjoy the Christmas lights and the new Solas experience. My call this year to Corkonians is to re-discover town, shop local and enjoy the experience."

The Christmas lights were switched on in Dublin on Thursday November 16th, and with many Christmas markets beginning from this weekend, not to mention the airing of Patrick Kielty's first Late Late Toy Show on Friday 24th, the festive season is well and truly underway. Header image via Cork County Council READ ON: - Athlone Christmas Market returns to Civic Square this December - You can take your dog to visit Santa Paws this Christmas at 43 locations across Ireland - Ireland on snow alert with 5cm expected to fall this month