Christmas is coming to Nenagh!

A wide and varied array of Christmas events is planned in the Nenagh district this year, starting with the switching on of the town lights this Sunday, November 30.

An open air concert will take place on Pearse St from 3pm with music from Trudi Lalor, Robbie Glennon, the Misneach Choir, JP’s Gigantic Video Disco, and more, including a performance from the Musical Theatre Academy of Nenagh.

The town’s Christmas lights will be turned on at 5.45pm, followed by the lighting of the Hospice Tree of Remembrance at Nenagh Courthouse at 6.15pm. This event will kick-off the 2025 Christmas festivities in Nenagh, which also include the Ormond Octaves concert at St Mary of the Rosary Church on Friday, December 5.

Christmas at the Castle will take place again this year, with children invited to visit Santa in Nenagh’s iconic keep from December 12 to 14, including a Sensory Friendly Santa visit on Friday 12. A Breakfast with Santa event has been added this year.

Details of local events for Christmas were provided at last week’s meeting of Nenagh Municipal District, which heard that both the Santa at the Castle and Breakfast with Santa events are already sold out.

A Christmas market will be held in the grounds of the castle on Saturday, December 13, and there will be a Christmas Country event with Declan Nerney in the grounds the following Sunday, December 14. Also that Sunday will be a choir service with the Odhran Pastoral Choir in St Mary of the Rosary.

Other events highlighted at the meeting were the Nenagh Christmas Tree Festival, running at St Mary’s Church of Ireland from Wednesday to Sunday, December 10 to 14, while the Christmas Tractors Nenagh make a welcome return on Sunday, December 14.

The council will also be introducing new parking arrangements for Christmas, with three hours of free parking in the car parks from Saturday, December 6 to Friday, December 26. Normal pay parking will apply on-street.

LIGHTS ON BALLINA BRIDGE

The meeting was also informed of plans for a switching on of lights ceremony on a Christmas tree located on Ballina-Killaloe bridge, accompanied by festive choral singing and other festive entertainment. Tipperary and Clare county councils are planning this together with dates and full details yet to be confirmed, with this Friday, November 28 and Sunday, December 7 mentioned as potential dates.

Meanwhile in Newport, a Winter Wonderland event is being organised at Newport Town Park for Saturday, December 6.

SHOP LOCAL

District Administrator Rosemary Joyce encouraged people to shop local this Christmas, supporting the local economy and keeping employment in the town and district. She also encouraged shoppers to avail of the Love Tipperary Gift Card.

District Cathaoirleach Cllr Phyll Bugler commended all involved in organising a “massive programme” of events for Christmas and she urged the council to make the general public aware of what is on.

Cllr Séamie Morris also praised the efforts of the council executive, including former District Director Marcus O’Connor and former county CEO Joe MacGrath. People in Nenagh have told him that they are generally happy with the efforts made to bring footfall to the town.

“That positivity comes from extremely hard work and preparation,” Cllr Morris said.

Cllr Joe Hannigan was of a similar view, saying it was “not just hard work but smart work” that earned Nenagh its reputation as a town to visit. He hoped that the Lower Ormond area would benefit as a result and that the council would help local people there in organising Christmas events.

A key aspect of all the positivity is Nenagh Tourist Office, Cllr Hannigan said, reckoning that the local office must be among the best in the country.

Ms Joyce mentioned that Nenagh Tourist Office attracted recent visits from Sky News and Dublin radio station Q102. Sky News was filming a piece for broadcast on the “Shane MacGowan trail”, which also involved Sky representatives travelling to a number of other associated locations. Ms Joyce said the piece is to be broadcasted on the either anniversary of Shane’s death or funeral, or around the time of his birthday over Christmas.