PRESS RELEASE

Thousands gather in Guildhall Square to watch Christmas Lights Switch On

21st November 2003

An estimated number of 8,000 people packed Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place to watch the annual Christmas Lights Switch On ceremony, which was performed by the city’s own Special Olympian David McCauley.

The Miracles and, up and coming boy band, Wot Next provided a excellent evening of fun and music to the hoards of people who had gathered in the city centre for the festivities with BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson doing a tremendous job as master of ceremonies for the celebrations.

Sinéad Quinn, who had earlier in the day taken time out of her hectic schedule to visit a number of special schools throughout the city, also entertained the crowd with an impromptu version of the Cat Stevens classic ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’ and later joined the Mayor and his family onstage with David McCauley as he performed the grand switch on with Santa Claus.

Providing a special highlight of this years Switch on proceedings, Mayor Councillor Shaun Gallagher, together with David McCauley, received a special commemorative Olympic Torch on behalf of the city from Pat McAleer, northern distributor for Newbridge Silverware.

The Olympic Torch was specially created for the city by Newbridge Silverware following an appeal during the summer to find a home for one of the twelve torches used during the Special Olympics. The demand was so great that a decision was made by Newbridge Silverware to make a special commemorative torch for the city, as it had been the first Host Town to offer a home to one of the Olympic torches.

The evening reached a climax when word came that Santa Claus had arrived and he went on to make a very dramatic entrance, via a fire engines ladder with the aid of the local fire brigade, from the city walls over the crowd to the stage, where he joined David McCauley to perform the Christmas lights switch on ceremony.

Mayor Councillor Shaun Gallagher thanked everyone involved in putting together this very special family event:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank to all those who organised and contributed to this special evening in particular David McCauley and his family Pat McAleer from Newbridge Silverware and BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson. They all did a wonderful job. I would also like to pay tribute to all the families who came along in such huge numbers to celebrate and enjoy the Christmas lights switch on.”

This event was brought to you with Seasons Greetings from Derry City Council in association with the Department for Social Development.

Notes to Editor
The Olympic Torch will be on display at the Crafts in the City Exhibition, which is taking place this weekend (Fri 21st to Sun 23rd November) in St Columbs Hall. The Torch will then reside as part of the Sons and Daughter’s exhibition until the end of the year.

ENDS

For additional information contact:

Press Office

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