Bulb idea to takes root in kingscourt

Kingscourt Lights Committee are well aware of the importance of Christmas lights in creating a welcoming environment festive shoppers - however, they are equally aware of the cost. In a bid to turn up the lights for next year, while dimming the costs, the committee have turned to the Kingscourt community for help.
Colm Kiernan, lights committee member, estimates that it costs €5,000 just to cover the ESB bill and maintain the lights as they are.
“The idea was to get members of the community more involved this year,” he said explaining their input for ideas to generate funding.
“One of the members came up with an idea of upgrading them for next year, maybe to LED lights, which would bring down the running costs - but they cost about €5 per bulb.”
Whilst the bulbs are expensive to buy, they should provide a long-term saving by greatly reducing the electricity bill.
“We are looking for around 1,500 bulbs to be upgraded. The intention would be to generate a bit of revenue for upgrading them out of the ‘Sponsor a bulb campaign’.
They launched the campaign at the recent illumination of the lights. Colm was delighted to see a huge crowd take advantage of the dry weather and turn out for the community event.
“It was the biggest year for having kids out on the street. We actually had to close off the road because there were that many kids out on the street - they were on both sides of the Market Square.”
Their lights campaign has gone well so far with over 25% of the bulbs sponsored already.
“In the run up to Christmas, we hope to sell a lot more,” adds Colm. “You get a novelty key ring bulb - so they are going very well with kids.”
Sponsorship cards are in businesses throughout the town. The lights committee also intend to run a couple of fundraisers in 2015, to invest in new lights and possibly expand the display further to embrace businesses on the periphery of town.

Traders ‘optimistic’
Speaking to Colm in Kiernan Bros furniture shop on Hall Street, he says Kingscourt traders “are optimistic enough”.
“People definitely seem to have more money in their pockets this year, and they are able to plan a bit better - that’s brought on by the fact that the budget has been brought through, people are getting a wee bit of extra work here and there - they are able to plan a lot more. Three or four years ago people were waiting - ‘What is the next thing coming down the tracks for us’?”
Whilst Colm is an advocate of people shopping locally, he stresses that it is essential for businesses to give customers reasons to shop local.
“Ten years ago people were going mad spending money as if it was going to be here forever, whereas people have a lot less now, they are budgeting a lot more, they are looking for value. And the important thing is that you can’t expect people to shop local - just by saying ‘because you should’. People simply aren’t going to do that.
“If the retailers are good enough, and offer good enough value, people will support them. I don’t blame anyone for going out of town for something if they aren’t getting the proper service or product that they should be getting locally.”
Colm believes that in recent years the seed of entrepreneurship hasn’t been adequately nurtured.
“My generation are being trained to be employees - work for Google, work for Facebook, get your education and become a great employee. Retail is not an option - no one is growing up aspiring to be a retailer...
“Young people do have the ability but for some reason they are afraid, they are not setting up. ”
He believes that the health of the town’s business life is dependant on them finding the courage to give it a go.
“Supervalu is moving out of the town - I think best of luck to them... Some peoples’ opinion is that the Main Street will be dead in five years’ time, but the reason the Main Street will be dead in five years time - is not down to Supervalu, it’s down to the lack of people taking the plunge and trying to set up something and provide a good service.”