15 January 2004: Naas Town at Christmas has been described as ‘The Valley of Darkness’ with no proper Christmas lights.

The dismal Christmas on the streets of Naas this past Christmas with no lights strung across the street, was recalled at this week's budget 2004 meeting of Naas Town Council.

Mayor Cllr Pat O’Reilly said the business community in Naas ‘need leadership, particularly among themselves’. But he said some traders have given a committment to try and reform the Chamber of Commerce.

He added that ‘one of the first items on the agenda when they meet will be the Christmas lights’.

Naas this past Christmas was described by town clerk Declan Kirrane as ‘one of the worst towns in the midlands’ regarding lights.

He agreed ‘Naas Town needs an active business association’ and said there are mutual benefits between the Town Council and the traders which can be discussed.

He will give the traders every assistance he can, he said, and is to meet members of the ESB and Chamber of Commerce over the Christmas lights situation.

Cllr Willie Callaghan asked the Council to call a meeting within weeks with the local Chamber of Commerce so as not to have ‘the deplorable embarrassment we had in Christmas 03’.

Cllr Seamie Moore wanted the Council to take back control of the Christmas lights and ‘do a good job of it’. At least three areas of the town, he pointed out, have no lights while 'others who do not contribute towards the cost' enjoy lights in their areas.

He said people from outlying areas come to Naas to enjoy the buzz at Christmas and expect proper lights up. “There was no atmosphere at all over Christmas. I am unhappy with the ESB who put their hand into the pot and wanted €17,500 for their part. In other towns they do not need the ESB poles for lights. They should be strung across the street without dependency on the ESB,” he said.

He said he was ‘sorely disappointed’ with what happened in Naas this Christmas and likened the Main Street to ‘The Valley of Darkness’.

Cllr Moore also praised the two big Christmas trees outside the Town Hall but said 'the lights did not come on' on Christmas Day.

Cllr Pat McCarthy proposed that no money be allocated towards the lights for 2004. He believed it is up to the traders themselves to provide them if they want to attract shoppers into the town over the festive season.

“It’s up to them to make this an attractive place to shop," he said. "While we’re half doing it, and someone else is half doing it, it’s not going to be done at all."

Cllr Mary Glennon said if the Christmas lights cost €25,000 she had expected a good show for the money. She praised some traders who made an effort with their own displays of Christmas lights but said the Council should look at how they are financing the lights. “What was there was nice, but it was totally inadequate," she said.

Cllr Timmy Conway suggested the Town Council take back its contribution towards the Christmas lights in Naas. He said the Chamber of Commerce 'were not blamed'. "Nor was the ESB - because no one could find any of them! It was local councillors on the street who got the brunt of the blame."