BACD /Town Team took over the Christmas lights project in 2015 from the Chamber of Commerce and since then have secured funding from numerous partners including Galway Rural Development, Ballinasloe Credit Union, Galway County Council and REDZ along with massive support from the local businesses and local community.
2023 – LIGHT UP BALLINASLOE FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON
Let’s Light up Ballinasloe by thinking of our friends and family for the festive season be they be at home or away or no longer with us.
The Ballinasloe Lights Christmas committee are asking the whole community to get behind us and help us financially in any way possible, either by personal donations or becoming a business sponsor to ensure we can light up Ballinasloe this Christmas.
Individuals can name a light for family or friends to show they are thinking of them this Christmas. Names will be recorded by either commenting on your donation or by emailing BACD directly or you may wish to remain anonymous.
The Towns Christmas lights are organised by a subcommittee under the umbrella of Ballinasloe Area Community Development (BACD Clg), a registered not for profit company in existence for the past 25 years. In 2020, a massive investment was made by the Ballinasloe Community for the purchase of the new installations. Each year there are reoccurring costs involved for the installation, repairs, storage, insurance, and electricity which has been covered by a combination of fundraising, business contributions, grant aid and donations.
This year we are asking the community to think of their loved ones and donate in their honour to ensure the viability of the lights.
If you would like to contribute, please click the LINK to gofundme page below and choose the amount you wish to contribute. 100% of all funds received will go directly towards the costs of the towns Christmas lights.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/ballinasloe-xmas-lights
Initial projects included the construction of a European wooden Christmas tree and establishment of the Christmas lights turn on festival. In more recent years, BACD purchased a spectacular 10-metre-high illuminated tree, Twin Reindeers features, Festoons, Globes, and Snowmen, to name a few, all LED’. This new tree and lights have transformed our towns streetscape during the month of December. BACD look after the maintenance, insurance, storage, and repair of the lights and hire an electrical contractor to install them each year. The annual running costs of the lights and festival are currently in the region of €25,000.
In 2022 BACD/Town Team were delighted to be able to hold a switch on ceremony, the first since 2018, (due to Covid) and as expected, a great crowd showed up on the evening to join in the festivities. Expenditure on the project for year 2022 was kept to a minimum due to increased costs in insurance and electricity. The town team coordinator Anita Killeen stated at the time “we would like to thank all the businesses and members of the public who so generously donated to the 2022 campaign and to all the volunteers who helped at the turning on festival. Plans to aid in the funding of the Christmas lights are always on-going, and as a community, we need new fundraising ideas to ensure we can continue with them every year.” If you have a “bright idea” that could help the Christmas Lights cashflow, please contact info@bacd.ie
| INCOME | |
|---|---|
| Business Contributions | €11,574.75 |
| Ballinasloe Credit Union | €4,000.00 |
| NYE Ball Surplus | €454.00 |
| Total Income | €15,574.75 |
| EXPENDITURE | |
| Installation & Repairs | €19,831.00 |
| Electricity | €1,833.50 |
| Insurance & Storage | €2,200.00 |
| Festival | €1,410.14 |
| Total Expenditure | €25,274.64 |
| DEFICIT 2022 | €9,699.89 |
| Surplus Christmas Draws 2020/2021 | €16,258.33 |
| BALANCE TOWARDS 2023 CAMPAIGN | €6,558.44 |
Gallery
Click on the images below.
