Christmas Light Ceremony Ended Early Last Night Over Safety Concerns

Alana Laverty

The turning on of Grafton Street’s Christmas lights is a highly anticipated event every year.

And, naturally, everybody wants to be there.

Unfortunately at last night’s Christmas light ceremony things took a turn for the worst, with an estimated 15,000 people in attendance, the event had to end early due to overcrowding.

The organisers, DublinTown, released this statement:

Huge thanks to everyone who came to the Grafton st Christmas lights. Greater crowds than anticipated. pic.twitter.com/as8TLPzcUM

— DublinTown (@DublinTown) November 13, 2016

The crowds were larger than organisers had anticipated and the event had to be cut early due to concerns over the safety and comfort of all in attendance.

And unfortunately acts Hermitage Green, Glenn and Ronan and the cast of the Gaiety Panto didn’t get to perform.

People took to Twitter to describe the atmosphere:

Switching on of the lights on Grafton street today – like a cattlemart and v dangerous #dublinatchristmas

— Paul Teahan (@paul_teahan) November 13, 2016

Well that was a very disappointing turning on of the lights this year. Dangerous & badly planned. #graftonstreet #dublinatchristmas

— Janice Kearns (@JaniceKearns) November 13, 2016

#dublinatchristmas was the worst “organised” event ever. Lights late, poorly stewarded & crap acts!Then scrapped @HermitageGreen #devestated

— Sinéad O’Gorman (@ShinySins) November 13, 2016

Turned into piss up families n kids intimidated, meant to start a 6 really bad org. Disappointed #DublinAtChristmas

— Pcan152 (@pcan152) November 13, 2016

Appalling organisation on Grafton St – caught up in logjam no warning no way out no stewards no Guards very dangerous #DublinAtChristmas

— Eoin Murphy (@emurphy70) November 13, 2016

Poor organisation Grafton Street earlier, people fully expecting a 6pm switch on. Young kids tired, parents exasperated #dublinatchristmas

— Bryan De B’stard (@BstardDe) November 13, 2016

Dreadful organisation on Grafton St tonight, far too many people, seriously dangerous! Lights late. Very disappointing. #dublinatchristmas

— Niamh Tracey (@niamhmtracey) November 13, 2016

Huh?! Hermitage Green were cancelled! Show cut short! Lights the only redeeming feature from a shit event. Never again! #dublinatchristmas https://t.co/RLXB2lWadJ

— Marcus Ó Buachalla (@ohfadabee) November 13, 2016

The organisers defended themselves saying:

thanks Emma, as we said above we ended it early because so many people came.

— DublinTown (@DublinTown) November 13, 2016

sorry you had that experience the railings were there for peoples safety, a lot of planning went into the event

— DublinTown (@DublinTown) November 13, 2016

a lot of organisation went in to the event and crowd control. The issue was double the amount of people expected showed up.

— DublinTown (@DublinTown) November 13, 2016

Were you there?