We are starting a GoFundMe to help fund the cost of Christmas lights in Ballybunion. We estimate that the cost of funding for the Christmas lights to be in the region of 6,500 euro.

We in the Forum have been involved in the Christmas Lights programme for the last five years but we were forced to go to the townspeople through a GoFundMe appeal for the last number of years as we didn't have a local funding stream since the Covid19 pandemic.

We have invested annually in a continuous replacement policy for the upgrading of the Town Lights due to the environment in town over the Christmas period. This is costly and requires continuous investment in the cables and bulbs. There is the ongoing

cost of insurance, the hire of a cherry picker

(hoist), the cost of erecting the lights and trees, plus a legacy debt to the ESB (believed to be around €3,200), all of which must be covered.

The good news is that all the bulbs are now "Led's" ( Light Emitting Diods) and are more resilient and more cost effective to run so the electrical power drain is minimal and more economical.

We are initiating this GoFundMe appeal to the townspeople and businesses of Ballybunion. With this support Ballybunion will have the Lights ,seasonal appearance and Christmas Spirit as usual.