A new group has been set up to look after the Christmas lights in Clara. The group was established when a public meeting was called for, after concern was expressed at the standard and timing of the switch on of the lights this Christmas.
At the meeting chairman Barry Flynn outlined how the lights were first erected almost 20 years ago when a group of local business people got together to set up a committee. However for the past 15 years, or so, the lights have been solely operated by
local butcher Carthage (Catch) Buckley. While the lights were put up and taken down by the local Fas scheme, Mr Buckley has been solely responsible for fund-raising, maintainance and organising the switch-on event. The meeting was reminded that at the switch-on in 2007 Catch Buckley had announced that he had intended to step down with immediate effect. He also reminded people that the lights would need upgrading within the next few years. However during 2008 no new individual or group came forward to look after the lights so at Christmas time Mr Buckley again saw that the lights were put up and switched on. Again in 2009 no group was set up and following a meeting between Mr Buckley and some local business people some lights were hastily erected, although there was some confusion regarding the switch-on.
The meeting heard that while there was money in the bank towards the lights Mr Buckley felt he could not hand it over to anyone without a guarantee that it was going to be spent only on Christmas lights. Mr Buckley told the well attended meeting that while another organisation in the town had expressed an interest as no group had been set up under the name of Christmas lighting he was reluctant to hand over the money.
Those at the public meeting agreed with this decision and thanked Mr Buckley for his great work over the years.
The new committee is made up of Aidan O’Brien, Catch Berry, Paul Rabbitte, Mark Lowry, Enda Guilfpyle, Jenny Finlay, Karen McDonagh,Patricia Handy and Tanya Finlay. Mr Buckley has agreed to assist the group in the initial stages so they can come to terms with hidden isuues such as ESB and insurance costs.
As soon as they have a bank account in place, and this years electricity bill is paid Mr Buckley has agreed to transfer all remaining funds to the new committee.
For many years Clara’s Christmas lights were the envy of many similar sized towns. The new committee is to start work immediately towards upgrading them over the next few years.
