Festive idea to lighten school costs

One of the highlights of the Kingscourt festive season is the now traditional Christmas Lights Run, and this year it’s set to be the biggest yet.

Scores of tractors, cars and even scooters each year get glitzed up with lights for the annual festive event organised by Coláiste Dún an Rí.

Typically 70 to 80 vehicles participate, ensuring it is a wonderful spectacle for families to enjoy.

“It really lights up the town,” says teacher Anthony Mulligan. “The efforts that some of the people make to decorate and light up their tractors, cars and trucks is brilliant.”

The route sees the vehicles make the short jaunt from the community centre up Main Street to the top of the town, and it’s there that the children steal the limelight. Their pedal parade lead the procession back down to the community centre again.

“It’s great to see them in their toy tractors and scooters all lit up, and they get the whole main road to themselves. There’s loads of colour, loads of sound – it’s great”

While it is designed to bring community cheer to the streets, it also raises funds for the school’s extracurricular activities, such as school trips and travelling to play matches.

“The costs of buses went through the roof about four years ago, so we tried to bridge the gap, to not have the students and their parents paying all the money for it," explains Anthony, who also coaches one of the college’s football teams. "We identified the need, and came up with the Christmas Lights Run as a fundraiser.”

Fortunately, their girls’ senior basketball team are in an All-Ireland Final in the new Year, and the girls senior football team have reached the Ulster final, which will take place in a few weeks.

Dún an Rí’s fundraising has been given a very generous head start in recent years through the sponsorship of McNally’s Pharmacy and SuperValu.

“They have sponsored €500 each and we really appreciate their continued support – this is the second year they have sponsored the event. On top of that we would hope to get an extra €2,000 from the event.”

Coláiste Dún an Rí Christmas Lights Run will take place on Saturday, December 14. Registration at the Kingscourt Community Centre from 3.30pm; and the main run leaves at 4.30pm sharp. There is a €20 entry fee per vehicle.