BISHOP LUCEY A CORKCHRISTMAS A K CELEBRATION P R Cork: one of Lonely Planet’s ON top 10 places to visit THE R A A OPEN EACH G AND P R DE AFTERNOON Presented by Cork City Council 4PM TO 8PM in association with Bord Gáis Energy ■ Friday 26th — Awarded Festival Sunday 28th November of the Year 2010 ■ Friday 3rd — Sunday 5th December ■ Friday 10th — Sunday 12th December ■ Friday 17th — Wednesday 22nd December MARKET STALLS Markets on the Grand Parade open from 10am to 8pm on the same dates as Bishop Lucey Park BEAMISH & CRAWFORD Beamish & Crawford’s Santa’s Secret Village open 12 noon to 8pm on the same dates as Bishop Lucey Park and the ��������������������������� Grand Parade IO ON IO ON 2 A CORK CHRISTMAS CELEBRAT N T H E GRAND PARADE A CORK CHRISTMAS CELEBRAT N T H E GRAND PARADE 3 Lord Mayor’s Franc’s fun and festive cheer message Christmas means the world to sharing and an overwhelming children’s wishes and dreams. Everybody both young and share with others and me. I think Christmas is what sense of happiness. This year Even though the characters old, will all interpret the Park Christmas is alive and well Welcome to Cork, to the smell of keeps me young at heart and the characters in the Park this have changed the essence of differently but a common in Cork. spiced beef and hot chocolate, the I’ve never lost the wonderment Christmas have changed. the Park is still my original overwhelming feeling for all as sound of Christmas carols and to PETER ‘A Cork Christmas Celebration on and excitement of what Christ- There will be robins sitting design of creating a magical you enter the Park is a feeling KELLY, the Grand Parade’. mas brings. in their nests gathering letters environment with sound and of happiness and the Christmas At Christmas we meet up with For me, the word Christmas everyday from the children for lighting transporting the visitors spirit. friends and family, bring them conjures up the feeling of family Santa, and each night ying to a fairyland of dreams and Christmas really is not about Weddings into the living room and share our and friends, warmth, open res, to the North Pole with all the fairytales. money but the emotions we By Franc hospitality with them. The Grand Parade is the city’s living room, all dressed up and ready to welcome our special guests. I see this event as a present from Cork City Council, a Christmas gift to all, resident and visitor alike. Please take the time to gaze at the lights and wander through the many stalls full of local foods and goods. This event H MA I o C R has now become a part of our tradition, it is a part of our city of T E G C F O K culture. ‘A Cork Christmas Celebration on the Grand Parade’ was Four of our best-loved celebs tell us why they like Cork named Festival of the Year in October of this year by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. It is a mark of excellence and quality of the event that it has been honoured in this way. MIRIAM JOSEPH IAN MARY The number of people who visited us last year, 120,000, is O’CONNOR, DEMPSEY, KENNEDY, a demonstration of the desire of people to come together and O’CALLAGHAN, to celebrate. Because of the demand this year the event has expanded and now includes the front courtyard of the Beamish Broadcaster Author Radio presenter Presenter and Crawford Brewery. I would like to thank all of our partners in this project, as well as all of voluntary groups and organisations, who will be performing over the fteen days of the event. This is a special time of the year for everyone, a time when we pause and show our appreciation and affection for each other. I hope that you will take the time this year to come to the Grand Parade and to see for yourself this magical event. I wish you all of very happy Christmas, Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir. Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Michael O’Connell Bord Gáis Energy Bord Gáis Energy is committed to helping our customers in every way we can, and that’s why we are delighted to be involved for a sec- ond year with” A Cork Christmas Celebration on the Grand Parade”. Cork City Council have shown the way when it comes to promoting a city at this time of year when it is vital that Cork is at its best.That commitment was rewarded last year with the Chambers Ireland Award for the Best Festival run by a Local Authority. It shows that when the local authority and businesses get together to promote their city the results are tangible and of huge bene t to the local economy. It also demonstrates that even in the unprecedented times we are living in, partnership and a positive approach can yield Hannah Daly, enjoying the Rockin’ Robin themed Bishop Lucey Park. rewards, lift spirits and boost business. At Bord Gáis Energy, we I like Cork because of the wonderful I like Cork because it was the home- Not only do I like Cork, I love Cork I like Cork because of all the good are determined to support these initiatives to ensure customers people who live there. Cork people are town of Rory Gallagher, and because because of Hay eld Manor Hotel, and friendly coffee shops in the city. and visitors get an opportunity to see a city putting its best foot simply great human beings - clever, of the “ ash-mob” public dance that the best hotel in Ireland. I’ve stayed I get to visit them when I’m working forward. funny, warm and friendly and always took place there on 14th November there twice this year and it’s a real in the Nationwide production of ce We’re also delighted that this year the festival has grown to DID YOU KNOW? home from home. That’s my number in the RTÉ building in Fr Mathew take in the historic Beamish and Crawford site and also that it so welcoming. 2009. will run for fteen days. Finally, on behalf of everyone in Bord one, but two, three and four include Street. It’s an opportunity to meet Gáis Energy, can I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas. the people of Cork, The Opera House up with the programme team and The Irish or Gaelic name for Cork is ‘Corcaigh’ meaning ‘a marsh’. and the fascinating English Market. go for a coffee and a chat. JOHN MULLINS, Cork City began on an island in the swampy estuary of the River Lee. Chief Executive Bord Gáis Eireann CORK CITY COUNCIL CORK CITY COUNCIL IO ON IO ON 4 A CORK CHRISTMAS CELEBRAT N T H E GRAND PARADE A CORK CHRISTMAS CELEBRAT N T H E GRAND PARADE 5 Cara O’Sullivan’s WHAT’S ON IN Only ne Red Army BISHOP LUCEY PARK o Christmas fairytale O KIN’ The original line-up of the As part of ‘A Cork Christmas Celebration on the R C St Luke’s Male Voice Choir Grand Parade’ Cara O’Sullivan will be performing on OBIN Sunday, December 12th, at 5pm on the Grand Parade. R The concert will also include the gifted singers from BRINGS Presentation Secondary School, who won the All-Ireland ADD D School Choir Competition two weeks ago E E T “CHRISTMAS is a very special time for me,” CH ER O says Cara O’Sullivan. “Not alone for the obvious joy of being with the family, but also E O O for the relief of getting some downtime away S AS N F from the stage.” With a packed annual schedule operating G D LL for the other fty-one weeks of the year, OO WI that time of home and hearth is a chance to unwind and recharge amongst family and friends. “Work can often be particularly frenetic in PETER KELLY (Weddings By Franc) is designing an the weeks leading up to Christmas, which is illuminated park with a lighting installation, and another reason why the break is so important which includes highly entertaining performances of CHOIR LINE UP and special. The Irish Christmas is truly unique characters and atmospheric soundtracks which and I rarely miss the chance to be home,” she will bring Bishop Lucey Park in Cork to life every ■ Friday 3rd of December says. weekend in the build-up to Christmas. Kisd Pigmon Choir - 5.15 to 6.00pm There have been a few occasions when work Fantastic outdoor events are also scheduled for the week days prior to Christmas Day. ■ Sat 4th of December did prevent this renowned international opera The installations will give Bishop Lucey Basement Resource Centre - 12.30 to 2.30pm star from making it back to her native city - and one in particular stands out. Park and the nearby Grand Parade an ■ Saturday 4th Of December “I remember I was working with the Paris unrivalled seasonal atmosphere — a Ballincollig Concert Band - 6.00 to 7.00pm Opera at the Palais Garnier and we had a must-see to bring a smile to every face in this seasonal of good cheer. two men were smoking outside Henchy’s as with all traditions there is always one ■ performance on Christmas Day. Happily, my Sat 4th/5th of December As the Park gates open, children and pub in St Luke’s, and rather than curse the unchanging constant, and at 4pm the full daughter came over to be with me and we Surgeon Noonan adults of all ages will immediately be cold and the Government, they decided to compliment of the St Luke’s Male Voice spent Christmas Eve at Disneyland, which 3.30 to 5.30pm/5.00pm to 7.00pm transported into a magical Christmas sing a song.