As people start putting up their trees and decorations, some households are preparing to have the most Christmas lights in Ireland.
Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie went on a search this Thursday for some of the brightest Christmas lights in Dublin.
Josephine Leonard in Crumlin said her love for lights started 35 years ago.
“I always decorated the inside of my house with the papers and that,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.
“Then about 35 years ago, I bought a sleigh and a couple of reindeers – then that January, I bought a snowman half price and put him up the following year.
“It escalated from there.”
‘Josie’s Xmas Lights’ have become a pride of Crumlin, and the official lighting has become an annual tradition at the start of December.
Every year, Ms Leonard also raises money for charities, including ALONE and Make a Wish.
This year, funds raised by Josie’s Lights will go to Dolphin’s Barn Fire Brigade, who will themselves donate the money to Oscar’s Kids Ireland, a charity dedicated to children with cancer.
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Ms Leonard’s dedication to dazzling lights and decorations has taken her around the world in search of the right stuff.
“I went to America to bring Mrs Claus here years ago,” she said. “Especially for Mrs Claus, I went to America.
“I put her on the plane and set up beside me on the plane.”
She plans to keep Josie’s Lights on every Christmas for years to come.
“I do the buying,” she said. “I don’t worry about the ESB bills.”
House of Christmas Lights Dublin
Meanwhile in Lucan, the House of Christmas Lights Dublin will be switching on for the last time this year, after raising €107,000 for charity over the last six years.
Phil, who runs the house with his partner Paddy, told Josh the decorations have evolved from second-hand lights to blinding illumination.
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He said there are over 70,000 bulbs placed outside his home every Christmas.
“There's probably 30 or 40 different sockets, more even,” he said.
“We started at the end of September this year, so we work every Friday, Saturday Sunday on it.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it.
“It’s for a good cause, so we don’t worry about the bills that much – until they come.”
This year, the House of Christmas Lights Dublin will raise money for Laura Lynn.
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Main image: Josie's Christmas Lights in Crumlin, 9/12/2023. Image: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk
