Carlow County Council invests €85,000 in Christmas Programme to support Retail and Festive Cheer.

Carlow County Council recently confirmed funding of €85,000 in the support of Christmas programmes across County Carlow for 2016. From culinary Christmas events, national marketing projects to attract domestic tourists, supporting the County Carlow Chamber’s ‘Christmas in Carlow’ programme to community events which welcome home our diaspora, Christmas lighting programmes, fireworks displays to free parking periods. Carlow County Council are actively involved in a large variety of projects which aim to increase the attractiveness to the many people who work, live, play and visit Carlow during the festive period.

Dan McInerney, Deputy Chief Executive of Carlow County Council said “creating a feel good factor around the festive period is an essential element of our work in Carlow County Council and is built around engagement with our citizens”. Dan continued to outline “that supports such as Christmas lighting programmes, grants and supports to groups are essential in particular for the retail sector because it gets people to visit their local towns and villages”.

He also outlined that “Christmas requires a significant level of working in partnership and collaboration in order to create an environment which allows for community and commercial focused projects”.  He continued to outline the Council’s appreciation to the many community groups, business groups and associations who work with the Council to ensure that the resources we have available for the Christmas period are utilised to have the best possible impact for.

Programme and marketing supports are co-ordinated by the Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office. Speaking about the importance of marketing and the development of quality consumer focused events, Kieran Comerford – Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office said “the importance of planning for the Christmas programmes is getting earlier and earlier each year”, Kieran continued to say “there is no doubt that there is a return on investment in this space and it’s our job to ensure investment is strategic and has the most benefit for communities and enterprises in County Carlow”.

Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr John Murphy said “We in Carlow County Council are delighted to work with groups across the county in the delivery of Christmas supports”. The Cathaoirleach continued to say “there is no doubt that these supports have an effect on trade in the towns and villages across our beautiful county”. He concluded by saying “Christmas really is a time for a team effort with traders, communities and the council working together in order to deliver the best for our County”.