Last year, Rathmullan’s Christmas tree was lit up to little fanfare but this year a group of committed locals plan to make it a very different event.

On Saturday 1st December at 7.45pm, Rathmullan’s first official lighting up ceremony will take place at the beach car park and will kickstart the fundraising efforts of the Rathmullan Habitat for Humanity Group.

The group, comprising of about 20 individuals from Rathmullan and surrounding areas, will travel to Malawi next August where they will work alongside families to build much needed housing.

Families and individuals are invited to buy baubles (at prices of 2, 5 and 10 euro) in local shops in the run-up to the Christmas tree lighting. They will then be invited to write their names on the baubles and place them on the Christmas tree as part of the lighting up ceremony.

“It will be a nice family event,” said Fr. Martin Collum, parish priest in Rathmullan,”and there will be some carollers on hand to provide a bit of musical entertainment.”

All money raised will go to the local Habitat for Humanity group, which began as a joint venture by the three Rathmullan churches; Presbyterian, Church of Ireland and Catholic. Congregation members and clergy from each of the churches are participating in the project.

Everyone is asked to come along, add a bauble to the tree, and light Rathmullan up in style this year.