LOCAL residents who attended the official lighting-up ceremony of their Christmas tree at Our Lady’s Park in Drumcondra earlier this month were devastated the following morning when they discovered vandals had slashed the cables for the tree’s lights in eight different places.
The Christmas tree has been erected for the past four years by Dublin City Council beside Fagan’s Pub, but each year hooligans have snipped the light cables within days of the lights being switched on.
The local business and community group that organises the tree, Mydrumcondra.ie, has now managed to raise funds to repair the lights, and had considered looking for a different location where the tree might be safe from mean-spirited thugs.
Noel Flood, spokesperson for Mydrumcondra.ie, said the vandals had ignored the St Vincent de Paul posters around the tree, which they had hoped would highlight the fundraising efforts that are part of the Christmas initiative.
“We had had a brilliant turnout for the switching on of the lights, and our appeal to people to bring a present for St Vincent de Paul was really successful,
? added Mr Flood.
“We collected over 30 presents for the charity and raised about e200 to help hard-hit families coming up to Christmas.
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Local businesses had thrown their full support behind the event, with the Skylon Hotel hosting Santa in his grotto. The hotel also generously laid on presents for kids and mulled wine and treats for the grown-ups. The Ivy House provided hot whiskeys, while Café by Day handed out free cups of warm soup.
Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton was among those who attended the event, along with Independent TD Finian McGrath and Labour councillor Ãine Clancy who formally switched on the lights at 5pm on Sunday, December 2.
But within hours, Our Lady’s Park was once more plunged into darkness when vandals struck in what seems to have been a premeditated attack.
Declan Markey, co-owner of Jim Markey Man’s Shop on Lower Drumcondra Road, was the first to spot the damage when he came in to work on Monday, December 3.
“I came in to work at 9.30am and went over to have a look at the tree,
? he told Northside People.
“The cables had been cut in eight different places with a scissors or a knife.
“We had put so much work into it; everyone was complimenting the tree, so we were shattered. Dublin City Council had been understandably reluctant to put the tree there because last year vandals cut the cables three times. Normally we would have at least gotten about three days out of it, but this year it didn’t even last the night.
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Noel Flood, who is also a health and safety expert at SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions, said the group was in a dilemma about whether it would be worthwhile repairing the lights again.
“Dublin City Council was more than generous in repairing the lights last year; their bill came to over e1,000,
? he said.
“We can’t expect them to keep sending crews out. We thought about putting it in the grounds of Skylon Hotel, as they have been really kind and supportive to us throughout.
“But there were health and safety problems there because it wouldn’t have been possible to anchor the tree safely in the car park.
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Local Independent TD Finian McGrath has urged the people of Drumcondra not to back down and
“let the vandals win
? on the issue of the Christmas tree lights.
“I’m absolutely appalled by this type of vandalism, especially at Christmas time and after we all had a fantastic day when the tree lights were turned on,
? he said.
“But I would encourage the people of Drumcondra and the business association not to lose heart. This is an important community day every year and we need to keep it up. Small businesses have suffered enough without vandals sticking the knife in further.
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Meanwhile, Mydrumcondra.ie has handed over the Christmas presents donated generously by the people of Drumcondra to St Vincent de Paul.
“I dropped the presents in to their office on Sean McDermott Street, and I have to say it was a harrowing experience just listening to the suffering they have to deal with,
? said Mr Flood.
“They’re out the doors. Christmas is a nightmare for so many families. I overheard the girl taking a phone call from one woman with five children who simply couldn’t afford Christmas.
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