It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Limerick thanks to an idea by leading stylist and fashion icon, Celia Holman Lee to encourage the city’s fashion retailers to decorate their windows in hopes of winning ‘Limerick’s Festive Window Display 2015′.
The initiatives forms part of ‘Celebrating Christmas in Limerick – The City of Fashion 2015′ which got underway yesterday (Monday) and features a mix of free fashion events, style, hair and make-up demonstrations, and a series of in-store events across Limerick City up to this Friday.
Retailers gathered in the Cornstore on Thomas Street this afternoon (Tuesday, 24 November 2015) for the announcement of the winner of the inaugural Festive Window Display competition. The shop windows were assessed this morning by a panel of adjudicators, which included Celia Holman Lee, Anne Melinn (Head of Fashion Department at Limerick School of Art & Design), Olivia O’Sullivan (The Limerick Post), Aine Fitzgerald (The Limerick Leader) and Fergal Deegan (Limerick’s Live 95FM).
Celia Holman Lee and Mary Hayes, economic development officer with Limerick City and County Council, presented the Tippe Canoe, Thomas Street, and No: 15 Le Maison de Curio who were named winners of the ‘Most Festive Window Display’ and ‘Most Creative Window Display’ respectively. The two winning retailers were presented with handcrafted pieces by ceramicist Clare Jordan of Limerick Craft Hub.
Commenting on the competition, Celia Holman Lee paid tribute to participants for helping to create “a wonderful Christmas spirit” throughout the city centre. She said, “The concept for this contest came from my love of coming into town as a child and looking at the beautiful Christmas windows. When devising ‘Celebrating Christmas in Limerick – the City of Fashion’, I thought it would make a fabulous addition to the programme of events.”
“I am overwhelmed with the response from retailers in the city. As it is the first year of the event, we have had to keep it limited in terms of criteria such as ladieswear, accessories and menswear. However, I hope expand it to other categories going forward,” added Ms. Holman Lee.
‘Celebrating Christmas in Limerick – The City of Fashion 2015′ commenced on Monday with the ‘Design & Style @ Limerick Craft Hub’ event, showcasing the very best of unique and local Irish design and continues tonight with a late opening of the Beauty Hall at Brown Thomas. The ‘Wondering What To Wear Over The Festive Season’ event takes place tomorrow (Wednesday 25th November) at Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre and will see feature style, hair and beauty tips from the experts and insider knowledge from the best in the business. The Fashion Road Trail event on Thursday and Friday will showcase the latest trends and fashions Limerick’s retailers have to offer in a range of in-store events.
City of Fashion kick starts a wide-ranging programme of events taking place across Limerick this Christmas. The programme includes ‘Limerick on Ice’ at Arthur’s Quay Park from late November, ‘Enchanted by Franc, a Medieval Christmas Experience at King John’s Castle’ in December, the Christmas Racing Festival at Limerick Racecourse, festive-themed illuminations, musical entertainment each Saturday, live music and comedy performances, Christmas carol concerts, pantos, kiddies workshops, theatre, and festive food events such as the annual Christmas Markets.
Meanwhile, Limerick City and County Council is showing its festive spirit by helping local retailers and community groups to promote their Christmas events and promotions on the Christmas In Limerick website. The Local Authority is encouraging businesses, groups and individuals to log on to limerick.ie/christmas to upload their own events free of charge.