Christmas Festival race night sure to be an odds-on winner!
Greyhound Race Night – Christmas Festival Fundraiser
Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence, TD Paul Kehoe, was at Enniscorthy Greyhound Track on Monday for the official launch of the annual Enniscorthy Christmas Festival fundraiser in support of the Christmas lights.
The fundraiser takes the form of a race meeting at the local track on Thursday night, October 4, with all proceeds going towards the town’s voluntary contribution to the cost of erecting the Christmas lights which each year draws very favourable comment from members of the public. As in previous years, the local contribution, some €15,000, is being collected by Enniscorthy Town and District Chamber of Commerce with Enniscorthy Municipal Authority contributing the remainder of the huge costs involved.
Enniscorthy Chamber president Maree Lyng and Development Officer Jimmy Gahan joined Minister Kehoe, other invited guests and officers of Enniscorthy Greyhound Company at Mondays launch during which Minister Kehoe remarked on how Enniscorthy was the envy of other towns of similar size in terms of its Christmas lights offering. The town, he added, was transformed ‘as if by magic’ in the run up to Christmas and this was due in no small measure to the fantastic Christmas lighting displays in all commercial areas of Enniscorthy, said Minister Kehoe. He noted the work of Enniscorthy Town and District Chamber of Commerce in organising and collecting the funds necessary so as to allow for an improved offering each year and Enniscorthy Municipal Authority for its continued involvement in making the town a virtual ‘winter wonderland’ over the Christmas holiday period.
Chamber president Maree Lyng was fulsome in her praise of the town’s business community who, despite the many demands on their generosity, always supported the annual Christmas Festival which brings so much good will and cheer in its wake. Without that support, she added, Enniscorthy could not possibly afford the erection of such a vast and expansive Christmas lights offering which matches and, in many cases, exceeds that of much larger towns throughout the country.
President Lyng also praised the continuing generosity of Enniscorthy Municipal Authority towards the Christmas lights programme and referred in particular to Enniscorthy Town and District Manager, Liz Hore, whose commitment, she added, to the overall Christmas atmosphere which prevails in Enniscorthy during the month of December as ‘nothing short of phenomenal’.
A very large attendance is expected at next Thursday night’s race meeting at Enniscorthy Greyhound Track where a top class programme of racing is on the cards.
All money raised from the venture will go towards the Christmas Festival events which will, in turn, ensure that Christmas 2018 in Enniscorthy will be magical with something for young and old.
Those attending will get to watch the racing from the comfortable surrounds of the track’s spacious bar or, for an even closer look, from the front of the stand located close to the finish line. A total of eight races are down for decision with some of the best greyhounds in the South East having already been entered.
Many of the races are being sponsored by business interests in Enniscorthy while other business concerns have taken the option of ‘Owning a Trap’. This option can add considerably to the excitement of the evening as trap owners compete against each other for the valuable prizes on offer. Punters will also enjoy great food on the night and partake in a raffle for some great prizes.
The dog night is an essential part of the fundraising activities of the Enniscorthy Christmas Festival for in Addition to funding the erection of the Christmas lights, it also funds many of the Christmas related activities which help promote Enniscorthy as a great shopping and dining destination. This is the fourth year of the night at the dogs and each year the event is gaining in popularity among all sectors of the community.
The Christmas Festival will feature, as usual, Santa’s Enchanted Castle which opens for business on November 25, and continues till December 23, during which time thousands of children and their excited parents will visit Enniscorthy Castle for the experience of a lifetime. Even though the opening is still some time away, 50% of the allocated tickets are already booked with the remaining 50% selling out fast.
This, in itself, is an indication of the popularity of Santa’s Enchanted Castle and for Christmas 2018, the organisers are promising an even greater experience than in previous years.
Enniscorthy and District Chamber of Commerce is co-ordinating the Christmas Festival activities in Enniscorthy and for further information on any aspect of the planned programme, members of the public are asked to contact the Chamber Office at 053 932.006.