Image Credit: Glow Cork – Facebook


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Cork Christmas Celebrations 2018

It’s coming close to that time of year again, dare we say it – Christmas!  We’ll be covering events happening throughout December as they approach us, but for now we’ve got the date the lights are being switched on in Cork this year. Traffic Restrictions: The following road closures will take place on Sunday, 18th November, 2018:

  • St. Patrick’s Street: 12:00 noon – 22:00hrs
  • Academy Street: 17:00hrs – 20:30hrs
  • Daunt Square & Cornmarket St. from St. Patrick’s St.: From approx. 15:00hrs until the event finish.

Lane restrictions will be in place during the day on Merchants Quay, Grand Parade and Washington Street.


Official Press Release:

Let the countdown begin!

Cork Christmas Lights to be switched on this Sunday November 18

Organised by Cork City Council, the countdown to Christmas has truly begun with the announcement that the switching on of the Cork City Christmas Lights will take place on Patrick’s Street this Sunday November 18th.  The Christmas Lights will be switched on by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Mick Finn and there is a rumored appearance of Santa!

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Mick Finn said

“Cork’s Christmas starts here! The Switching on of the Christmas City Lights officially marks the start of the countdown to Christmas in Cork. The Switch on will take place at approximately 7.15pm and I would encourage people to come into the city to experience this wonderful free family festive event. I would also encourage people to shop local for Christmas and help keep jobs and shops alive in Cork.”

Beginning at 6.30pm on Patrick’s Street, the Switch on Party will be hosted by KC and Ros Browne from Cork’s 96FM. 

Ireland’s leading pop music school, The Academy of Popular Music will perform a selection of much-loved Christmas songs including All I want for Christmas, Merry Christmas Everyone and Fairytale of New York. Students from The Academy of Popular Music, have previously performed on the Late Late Toy Show, the Voice of Ireland, and Cork’s Got Talent. 

They will be joined on stage by the Cork Deaf Choir who will sign and sing a selection of Christmas Songs, and they invite everyone to ‘Sign Along’ by learning the chorus of Santa Claus is Coming to Town which you can find  here: https://youtu.be/UfQOqkk5jPU or by searching ‘Irish sign language santa’

Throughout the evening ISL Irish Sign Language Services will be on offer, and patrons with additional mobility needs will be accommodated close to the stage. 

Due to the large volume of people who annually attend the Switching on of the Christmas Lights, members of the public are being asked to give themselves plenty of time to come into Cork City on Sunday. Normal Sunday parking restrictions will apply and traffic wardens will be on duty. Some additional road closures and lane restrictions will be in place from 12 noon to 10pm on the day, so drivers are advised to check the website. Park and Ride will operate on a Monday to Friday frequency from 11am-8.30pm from Black Ash to Lapps Quay, and with the last Bus leaving the City Centre at 8.10pm. 

See www.corkchristmascelebration.ie for details on parking in the city.

The switching on of the Christmas Lights will kick start the city’s seasonal celebrations and a big promotional drive by Cork City Council and the Cork Business Association to encourage people to come into the city centre and to shop locally in the lead up to Christmas. 

Cork will be transformed into a festive wonderland with the opening of GLOW on Friday November 30th which will run for four weekends in the build up to Christmas. Cork’s 96FM and C103 and the Evening Echo are the media sponsors of GLOW 2018.

For further information contact Eimear O’Brien PR

086 8900364/[email protected]


Sunday – 18th November is the date to save in your calendar, and the event runs from 6pm – 7.30pm. The switch on will take place on St. Patrick’s Street as previous years, and massive numbers (upwards of 10,000) are expected. Traffic diversions will be in place in the City Centre. We’ll be on hand issuing updates throughout the day.


Glow – A Cork Christmas Celebration also returns to Cork this year, with their free festive installation in Bishop Lucey Park which will open from 4.30pm to 8.30pm. The ever popular ferris wheel returns for 2018, and will be open each day from 12pm to 9pm starting on Friday 30th November 2018 until Sunday 6th January 2019. The Christmas Markets will open from 12pm to 8.30pm. Glow Dates:

  • Friday, 30th November to Sunday, 2nd December
  • Friday 7th December to Sunday 9th December
  • Friday 14th December to Sunday 16th December
  • Thursday 20th December to Saturday 22nd December

Ferris Wheel:

  • Opening Hours: 12.00 – 9.00pm from Friday 30th November, to Sunday 6th January 2019.
  • The Ferris Wheel will close on Christmas Day, and close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
  • Pricing: Adults: €4 | Child (Age 3+) €3 | Child (Age 2 and under) €2

2017 dates/times for Glow/Ferris wheel are displayed. We’ll update the article once the press release from Cork City Council / Glow has been received. [sg_popup id=”2081″ event=”inherit”][/sg_popup]

Images & information provided by Eimear O’Brien PR on behalf of Cork City Council.

By Cork Safety Alerts

Administrator of Cork Safety Alerts.