Christmas for the community
A monumental amount of work and love goes into making Cork city such a special place to be each Christmas.
There is incredible compassion in this city at all levels, both seen and unseen.
As he concluded his term in the summer, the previous Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy said he had been absolutely blown away by the depth of community activity he’d experienced during his term.
He said: “From a person in a small building in the corner of a street doing something to help two or three people, to something like 100 people helping people. I think the essence of community and the roots of community run way deeper than what we think.”
That sentiment is true all year long here on Leeside, but it really hits home around this time of year as legions of already hardworking, creative, and passionate people double their efforts to plan events, to raise money for charities, and to bring Christmas cheer to the people at the end of another long year of wins and losses.
Charities like S.H.A.R.E., Cope Foundation, Cork Penny Dinners, Cork Simon, ALONE, St Vincent de Paul, and many more will all be working overtime over the coming months to help those in need and will be calling on the people of Cork to step up once again and give what they can over Christmas.
Retail in Cork city continues to fight to keep the city alive, to maintain that circular economy that has kept the fire lit for so long in this special city of ours.
Retailers have stood firm and people and companies continue to invest and have faith in our little city centre with new businesses opening up all the time. But they need footfall, they need you, all wrapped up in your winter clothes, shaking off the cold at the door and stepping forth into a world of tangible goods that you can hold and peruse as Christmas songs play in the background. Nothing beats it.
As always, there’s loads to do this Christmas in Cork city. This year marks the inaugural Corkmas Christmas Parade which will coincide with the turning on of the Christmas lights tomorrow, Friday. The iconic Ferris wheel is back too of course, and this year’s Cork city Christmas market will be at Emmet’s Place.
And of course, the pantos are back too! It’s ‘Cinderella’ this year at Cork Opera House, while The Everyman has gone for ‘Red Riding Hood’. Both open on 30 November and will run well into the New Year. And don’t forget the Improv Panto at Cork Opera House, running from 6-28 December. ‘Willy Wonky - the adult panto’ will run at An Spáilpín Fánach and isn’t one for the kids!
So, it’s shaping up to be another great Christmas in Cork city. Let’s be proud, generous, and full of cheer as we close out 2024 in style.