Cork city-centre traders have been accused of having a "Scrooge-like mentality" for refusing to fund the total €250,000 cost of providing the city's annual Christmas-tree lights.
Big businesses, among them international chains based on Patrick Street, are refusing to cover the total amount. However, they are willing to contribute €50,000, or just 20 per cent of the cost of the lights. Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry, who is based in Cork North Central, has accused the businesses of having a "Scrooge-like", mean-spirited mentality.
City manager Joe Gavin has informed councillors that traditionally traders in the city centre arranged and paid for the provision of festive lighting.
"In recent times, it has become very difficult for the organisers to secure sufficient financial assistance from the individual traders. Approaches have been made for assistance from the city council," he said.
However, Mr Barry said businesses needed to re-examine their position in the coming weeks. "Tens of millions of euro will be spent in the city-centre shops in the next month and a half; €50,000 in total is a miserable sum to give back to the people of Cork and shows a Scrooge-like mentality," he said.
"The bigger businesses should stop acting like spongers and make decent contributions before the end of the month."
In a separate development, Cork Marketing Partnership is attempting to organise a major, continental-style Christmas market for the city.
The market, which is not expected to be up and running until 2009, will run along similar lines to the famous Christmas markets in Germany.
Mr Gavin has supported the initiative and is urging city businesses to get involved.