Historic Cathedral’s Christmas Festival Attracts Thousands

Thousands have visited St Columb’s Cathedral, one of Northern Ireland’s most historic churches, to experience its Christmas festival, which features unique displays such as a retro festive living room, a Christmas tree made from recycled egg cartons, and a Victorian-era model village. The event, held in Londonderry, has been ongoing throughout December and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday. By its closing, organizers anticipate that nearly 4,000 individuals will have attended the cathedral. Robert McMonigle, the cathedral’s parish administrator, stated, “People have told us they have been blown away by the festival and some of the feedback we have received has just been lovely.” St Columb’s Cathedral, a gothic structure erected in 1633, holds the distinction of being the first Anglican cathedral constructed in Ireland following the Reformation. Its annual Christmas festival has become a significant attraction on Derry’s festive calendar for numerous attendees. The cathedral is filled with various exhibits, including custom-made Christmas trees, dioramas, and vintage toys. These displays are the result of contributions from charities, schools, sports clubs, community groups, businesses, and some of the city’s most artistic residents. According to Tony and Aileen Moore, visiting St Columb’s for Christmas is essential for both city residents and tourists. Aileen informed BBC News NI, “This has become our Christmas tradition over the last few years.” She added, “It is mesmerising what people can do, what they can make from nothing. The ideas here are just fantastic.” They both concur that the miniature Victorian Christmas village, featuring moving trains and hot air balloons, stands out as the festival’s main attraction. Tony remarked, “It is just fabulous.” He continued, “You can tell this is a labour of love. Look at the time and effort that has gone into this. It is here for the whole community, so many more people should come here and see this.” George Keys is responsible for creating both the Victorian village and the nostalgic recreation of a 1960s living room. As an enthusiastic collector, he aims for his exhibits to enhance the festive spirit for visitors. George explained on BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson Show that his intention was to evoke a simpler era and rekindle Christmas memories from the past. He stated, “Myself and my wife travelled around so many charity shops across Northern Ireland to pick up everything so it took a lot of time.” He added, “It will bring back happy memories for anyone who does see the display.” He noted, “There are memories everywhere you look. We have dollhouses, old annuals, bikes and even the Christmas tree is decorated with vintage decorations and lights from the time.” Rhonda Styles and Liz Fielding are among the volunteers from the cathedral who are guiding visitors throughout the festival. Rhonda commented, “We have had a very good response from the public”, and further stated that “it has been so pleasing to see so many people come through the doors.” She also mentioned, “We’ve had people, even from the city, who have said to me that this has been their first time coming up to the cathedral and they have been overwhelmed by the displays.” Liz attributed the festival’s success to the extensive effort contributed by numerous individuals. She remarked, “Getting the numbers back in the cathedral since Covid has been a struggle, but having a lot of people back in the building – the whole atmosphere changes -it’s just wonderful.” The festival is open until December 21 and offers free admission. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.