After four consecutive Christmases with no big light switch on event on Pana - the long-standing festive tradition will finally make its grand return to Leeside this year. Speaking to the Cork's 96FM Opinion Line with PJ Coogan, Cllr John Maher confirmed that elected repsand officials from Cork City Council have all agreed to bring the event back for Christmas 2024 - and it's going to be bigger than ever. It might be the middle of July - but planning is already underway to organise a full Christmas pageant that will run all through the city centre - featuring the highly anticipated switching on of the lights on Patrick's St.
READ MORE: Cork weather: Dull weekend as grey skies forecast but hopes rain could hold off READ MORE: One of Cork's largest employers secures land for new expansion The Labour Cllr told PJ Coogan: "There will be a Christmas pageant throughout the city where local groups will be invited to take part and obviously there will be some professional companies coming in to create the Christmas feel. Very like Euro Disney type parade brought to Cork city. "The hope then is that when the pageant comes to a certain part of the city the lights would come on and the magic begins.
"It's going to be free, it's going to be safe, it's going to be dispersed around the city which means that we're spreading the wealth. If families and people have a few pound in their pocket they'll be able to go to a number of places." Cllr Maher also said that there will also be a number o.
