“Thank God no one was injured or worse,” said a Senator after Christmas lights came crashing down on a busy main street on Friday afternoon.
Motorists were being diverted and asked to avoid the town centre of Drogheda, Co Louth after the incident which occurred at lunchtime.
The section of the festive lights fell down at the busy junction of West Street, Shop Street, Peter Street and Lawrence Street.
The weight of the falling lights also sent some masonry of a building they were attached to plummeting on to the street.
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Local Fianna Fáil Senator Alison Comyn said the flailing lights caused damage to a car but thankfully no one was injured.
“I was just seconds away and saw the commotion,” she said.
“The lights were down and there was some masonry on the ground. The back window of a car was broken.
“I’ve been speaking to people here and it is so lucky no one was injured.
“One man who was walking on the footpath had slowed down to check his phone. If he hadn’t, he could’ve easily have been hit by falling masonry.
“It was a freak accident due to the high winds and weight of the lights.
“Questions will have to be asked about what happened and why but for now, we have to be just so thankful that no one was injured in what is a very busy junction.”
Louth County Council said its crews responded to the incident in which “strong winds caused a large Christmas light installation to fall”.
In a statement, the council said: “The anchorage point supporting the catenary-style festive lights at the Tholsel crossroads broke free from its structural base, dislodging bricks and a capping stone from the fourth-floor level. These materials fell to the ground, striking the windscreen of a passing car. Thankfully, no pedestrians were injured, and the driver of the car sustained no serious injuries.
“Council staff managed traffic and, using a cherry picker, promptly cleared the scene. A structural engineer from Louth County Council is currently investigating the failed anchorage point to assess whether any other loose bricks, mortar, or capping stones require securing.
“The affected junction will remain closed until engineers confirm that all high-level elements are safe.”
The council noted that the lights in Drogheda and Dundalk were owned and installed by the respective Business Improvement District companies on behalf of local traders. “These companies are responsible for the installation, management, and removal of festive lighting throughout the season.”
