PICTURES: Mountmellick has possibly the biggest real Christmas tree in Laois

With just one year to go before a new eco friendly permanent Mountmellick Christmas tree is installed, the town is about to light up a beautiful real Christmas tree this festive season, that is likely the tallest real Christmas tree in any Laois town.

This year’s tree has been donated by Coillte and was harvested at Seskin, Kinnitty Forest, Co. Offaly. The 12 metre (40 foot) tree was delivered to O’Connell Square in the early morning of Monday, November 18 by Roundwood Timber Ltd.

Committee chair Paddy Buggy was on hand to coordinate the careful mechanical lifting of the impressive 12 metre, ton weight tree into position.

It now stands proudly next to the town's traditional nativity crib, with the official switch-on including the town's festive fairy lights, taking place on election night, Friday November 29 at 7pm.

The Parish Choirs will be in attendance to make the night even more magical, marking the beginning of Mountmellick’s Christmas season, with big crowds hoped to attend fresh from the polling booths.

A display of prototypes of the new replacement for the town's beloved permanent tree structure, will be placed on public display in the square.

The 2024 Mountmellick Christmas Tree ahead of the big switch-on on November 29.

Paddy Buggy hopes for a big turnout on the night. 

“We are immensely grateful to Coilte for their support this Christmas time. Mountmellick has a long tradition with a Christmas Tree standing in O’Connell Square since 1956. The first tree was cut locally, brought into town on a cart, placed in a barrel and adorned with 30 lights.

"Over the years, led by visionaries Ger and Brian Lynch and many others, it had an innovative light display that excited and charmed young and old for decades. the Christmas Tree in Mountmellick has instilled huge pride, and fostered a sense of place in the community, and our diaspora across the world. We also are particularly thankful to our local Credit Union for their ongoing support over the years - ensuring a Christmas Tree is part of the town’s seasonal festivities.”

Mountmellick Christmas tree before it had to be demolished for safety reasons in 2023. Photo: Diarmuid O'Connor

Replacing the original tree, beloved by locals, is literally a tall order, but locals have been busy designing bright ideas.

All this year, Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee led a programme of creative public engagement days in collaboration with Yarnbombing Mountmellick, local people and Mountmellick Community School, with lead artist Martina Coyle and science
communicator Catherine McGuinness. Local company Midland Steel is also on board for the project.

Called The Valley Star Project - reimagining Mountmellick’s future Christmas tree through the lens of climate action is to be showcased in O’Connell Square with an installation of prototypes, and an exhibit at Nora’s Cake Shop.

Valley Star Project member Orla McDonagh working on prototypes with Mountmellick Community School students.

Designs are is inspired by community collaboration, Mountmellick Embroidery, local textiles heritage and biodiversity.

Lead artist is Martina Coyle said that the project has the environment at its core.

“This is a grass-roots project of a very caring community. Honouring the beloved Mountmellick Christmas tree and the creativity and ambition behind it has been our guiding principle, along with inclusivity, sustainability, shared learning and the enhancement of biodiversity and community wellbeing.

“The climate-friendly lighting technologies in The Valley Star Project are informed by solar capture and the capacity for renewable energies to be harnessed locally in Mountmellick, and integrated into domestic, business, education, social and cultural infrastructures," she said.

Delivery of this year's Mountmellick Christmas tree. 

Electrical engineer, Nacer Kherroubi from Portarlington’s MakePort Makerspace has voluntarily given his time and expertise to the project - placing solar panels on the crib, converting solar energy and storing it in batteries to power the project prototypes.

The result is a 'Butterfly Tree' prototype to be displayed in O’Connell Square powered by solar and renewable energy.

On behalf of Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee and The Valley Star Project Paddy Buggy honoured two special women who had contributed hugely.

“A very special thanks to Nina Horan, a previous long-serving member of Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee and Yarnbombing Mountmellick for her vision, enthusiasm and advocacy for ‘The Valley Star Project’, and life-long passion for Mountmellick’s community, unique heritage, and the exciting possibilities for the town’s future.

“In addition we would like to express our condolences to the family of Anne Blanche who recently passed away. Anne was a stalwart of Yarnbombing Mountmellick and was working on decorations for the ‘Butterfly Tree’ prototype up until September. She is sadly missed.”

The Valley Star Project committee thanks Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee, Yarnbombing Mountmellick, 
Mountmellick CS students and deputy principal Frances Kerry - La Rosa. Also Laois based artists Evgeny Chubatyy and Orla McDonagh, and Westmeath based artist Bertille de Lestrade who facilitated community and school workshops and participated in the making of project prototypes. They send gratitude also to Amanda Hyland and Mountmellick Library staff who hosted workshops and meetings.
They are very grateful for the support of Seán O'Donoghue – HR Manager and Hugo Correia – BIM/Technical Manager from Midland Steel, a Mountmellick founded company that is supporting the community project.

Mountmellick Christmas Tree committee member Aoife Lynch adding lights to the tree. Photo: Mountmellick Tidy Towns.

The Valley Star Project is grant aided by the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Climate Action Spark fund. The fund aims to bring creative talent to spark real cultural change, and engage the public on the urgent transition to a climate resilient and carbon neutral society. The Creative Ireland Programme is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.