Lord Mayor of Dublin to unveil city's Christmas tree in three weeks

THE LORD Mayor of Dublin, Emer Costello, will unveil the city’s official Christmas tree on November 22nd – two weeks later than last year.

The lighting of the tree in O’Connell Street which marks the start of the city’s festive season had been happening increasingly earlier every year. However, last year Christmas came remarkably early with the then lord mayor Eibhlin Byrne lighting up on November 9th, some three weeks earlier than in 2007.

The move, which caused consternation among parents trying to hold back a tide of Christmas demands, was defended by Ms Byrne as a call to “civic patriotism” by shoppers to spend their Christmas money in Dublin.

The traditional Christmas tree was replaced last year with a 18m, five-tonne, tree-shaped structure made entirely of lights. The artificial tree is being reused this year. Although it is appearing just over a month before Christmas, Henry Street and Grafton Street cannot wait that long for the season to begin and will be switching on their lights on November 15th and November 17th respectively.

The lighting-up ceremony is just one of a series of free Christmas events organised by Dublin City Council and the Dublin City Business Association.

Highlights include a family-fun day for the opening of the live crib at the Mansion House, December 8th; the 12 Days of Christmas Festival at George’s Dock, December 12th-23th; a Medieval Christmas Fair at the National Museum, December 20th; and Christmas markets Thursday to Sunday for three weeks from December 3rd at Cathedral Street and Coppinger Row. For full listings see www.thisismydublin.com