Christmas lights switch-ons in Randalstown and Crumlin will proceed as normal for 2025

CHRISTMAS in Crumlin and Randalstown will go ahead as normal this year after proposals to cut the number of main flagship lights switch-on events was shelved.

Back in 2018, tempers flared after Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council proposed that Antrim, Randalstown, Ballyclare and Glengormley would continue to trip the light fantastic with big Christmas lights switch-on events.

Under the proposals back then, Crumlin, Templepatrick, Toome and Parkgate would apply for funding to host their own smaller ‘community-led’ ceremonies with trees and lights.

However after public uproar, Crumlin was eventually back into line with the four other towns of Ballyclare, Randalstown, Antrim and Glengormley and eventually two other sites were added to the main programme from the legacy Newtownabbey end.

It was an unedifying few months, with the council facing claims of being a ‘Scrooge’ and ‘The Grinch who Stole Christmas’, while Alliance Alderman Tom Campbell infamously quoted Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in the council chamber when discussing the messaging by campaigners in Crumlin.

But last month came plans to slim down the major festivities, with just three ‘flagship’ events in 2025.

A report due before the Community Development Committee this week outlined the new proposals - with Crumlin and Randalstown failing to make the cut, while the online coverage introduced during the Covid pandemic is also recommended for the chop to save around £10,000.

However existing festive and illuminated trees will remain at Antrim, Ballyclare, Crumlin, Randalstown, Hazelbank Park, Monkstown and Glengormley, will remain with an additional tree being erected for a new flagship event at V36, while the 12 areas where ‘community-led’ events take place, plus Crumlin and Randalstown could bid for an increased grant of £2000 to run their events.

But at the Community Development Committee meeting in September, Sinn Fein Airport Councillor Maighréad Ní Chonghaile asked to formally propose a deferral.

“This one requires wider input from across council and wider accountability, we have 40 members, Crumlin will be drastically effected, and there is not another DEA (District Electoral Area) member in the room, on that basis alone, we should refer this to full council at the end of month for fuller debate and decision making process across all council.”

This was seconded by her party colleague Annie O’Lone from the Dunsilly DEA.

DUP Antrim Town Councillor Paul Dunlop asked if £20,000 for the main events would be enough.

“Do we feel that's adequate, look at holding an event at the V36, with ten to eleven thousand people, and the same in Antrim, bringing in extra two to three thousand people, I am conscious, would that budget be sufficient to cover it?”

It was agreed that because the decision affects every DEA, that the item be deferred.

At the full monthly meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council last week, Alliance Councillor Andrew McCauley proposed keeping things as they are for 2025.

“This report is very close to Christmas, and these changes are quite significant, to make (a decision) right now, eight to ten weeks out, is going to have an impact on some of the areas, not least shops and facilities that rely on footfall, which is not good at the best of times, never mind Christmas.”

“It would be better if we had more time to discuss this, we will have to start looking at things, costs, whether spending is warranted .

“I propose that all the events are retained that we had last year, with a review sub-group, to meet in January or February so we can have a discussion.

“We can remove the livestreaming, it is at significant cost, and average views of 2.7 minutes is not value for money.”

He agreed that the Spirit of Christmas Awards, which was also part of the proposal, proceed as recommended.

DUP Councillor Mark Cooper said he was ‘more than happy’ to second.

“We are at the end of September and the decisions will effect a number of places that rely on the footfall, I do agree with the points.”

Sinn Fein Airport rep Anne Marie Logue, who was heavily involved in the campaign to keep Crumlin included in the main list of events back in 2018 said that looking at changes just eight weeks before Christmas was ‘quite alarming’.

“The civic Christmas light switch-on events bring families together, make a difference to communities and create memories for children that last a lifetime.

“To withdraw funding now would devastate community spirit and create a public relations disaster for this council.”

She said that ‘struggling local traders’ would suffer and that such events assisted local businesses. which are the ‘lifeblood of our towns.

Councillor Logue said that council should recognise the significant cultural, economic and social benefits, the positive impact on local schools.

She added that such celebrations encourage pride in towns, are vital for local firms and that the situation should be re-assessed for next yeat and that other avenues such as partnership opportunities and external funding should be explored.

Antrim Town Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly, said that as Mayor, he attended all seven events last year and suggested mixing up the dates, adding that Antrim’s event last year was on a ‘schoool night’ of Thursday.

He said that on a weekend, there would have been double the attendance.

Ballyclare DUP Councillor Jeannie Archibald-Brown said that with some of the smaller groups having already decided on a date for their events, around the main civic celebrations, such a plan might be more appropriate for 2026.

Dunsilly Ulster Unionist rep Stewart Wilson said he supported the previous speakers.

“We are in the business of making evidence-based decisions, how could I tell my constituents why their switch on was being downgraded when it had the same number of attendees as Antrim?

“We hear buzzwords about rural isolation and loneliness and equality, but push comes to shove, it is rural residents pushed under the bus due to a postcode lottery.”

Speaking to the Antrim Guardian later, Councillor Wilson has called on the residents of Randalstown and surrounding villages and hamlets to support the annual Christmas Light Switch On Event amid proposals to cut the town out of the main flagship programme going forward.

He said: “whilst this item has been deferred until next year, the fight is very much on to retain Randalstown’s place as a flagship event for the council’s Switch On programme”

“As I stated in the chamber on Monday night, the evidence does not support the decision to downgrade Randalstown to a Community-led rather than Council-led switch on. As per the Officer’s Report, in 2024 Randalstown drew approximately 2,000 attendees, exactly the same as Antrim town, yet once again it’s our rural ratepayers who fall victim to a postcode lottery when push comes to shove, despite the Council’s supposed commitment to help tackle rural inequalities and social isolation.”

“I call on all local residents to send the council a clear message that this event is well supported by the community by turning up in droves when dates are confirmed. Randalstown is a jewel in the crown of our Borough, its picturesque, award winning beauty brings the Council unparalleled recognition and it deserves a Switch On in its own right.

“I can assure residents that I will be fighting tooth and nail to retain the current event both next year and going forwards.”