The Christmans Tree

Mountmellick has had a Christmas tree located in O'Connell Square since 1956.

An indication of the size of the first Christmas tree can be judged by the fact it was transported by Ass and Cart into the O'Connel Square. In the insuing years larger trees were erected until 1961, it was necessary to put a manhole in the square especially to take these larger trees.

In 1969 a pole structure was used instead of the original live tree.

In 1983 a permanent steel structure was put in place with a Skeleton framework which enabled the wiring to become standardized and it is this structure that is in use to the present day. It is necessary every year to dress the tree with branches to give an authentic look.

After the initial few years a switching arrangement was introduced for the lights which became more intricate over the years. Until in 1963 the switching arrangements were finialised for the tree and is the same as it is today except for the introduction or designs which were introduced in 1968.

In order to appreciate the present switching arrangement it is necessary to be familiar with the make up of tree.

The tree has four sets of pink lights the first of which form a sphere at the top of the tree, then three rings the first of which is located at the top of the trees below the stars the second is the bottom outside ring of lights. The third ring is the ring located at the trunk of the tree.

The colours on the remainder of the tree are red yellow, blue and green.

The tree has four stars red, yellow, blue and green which are located between the sphere and the top pink ring. Underneath the tree between the bottom pink rings are four rings (yellow, red, blue and green) which light in conjunction with the stars.

On the body of the tree they are sixteen even spaced drops of lights which extend the full length of the tree. This means the four colours are repeated four times around the tree and in the switching arrangement these will light up one to eight. Dividing the tree in to two semi-circles which can be viewed from either side of the square.

It has sixteen rings of lights each colour repeated four times and located between the top and bottom pink rings thus every set of coloured lights whether stars drops or rings are enclosed between pink lights. These pink lights remain lighting during all operations of the tree with the exception of when the four stars and the bottom rings build up and decrease in sequence.

The switching of the tree is divided into six arrangements

1) One colour change in this the tree lights up in sequence of red drop, yellow rings and blue stars then the red drops changes to the fourth colour green. Then progressing to the yellow rings being changed to blue. In addition, the blue stars changing to green it will continue like this with the odd colour out coming on in sequence until all colours in the stars rings and drops have been illuminated one at a time.

2) Build up of the tree by colours in the sequence of red yellow blue and green staying lit for a set period of time then descending in the same order.

3) Half the tree lights red and blue then the yellow and green lights come on to light the full tree the blue and red lights go out to give a yellow and green tree then the red and blue lights come on again to give a full tree and this pattern is repeated a number of times.

4) a) The drops in the tree light from one to eight on both sides of the tree in the sequence of red, yellow blue and green until all the drops are lighting and remain lighting for a set period and then descend in the same order

b) The rings then light from one to eight on the top and bottom half of the tree in the sequence of red, yellow blue and green until all the rings are lighting and remain lighting for a set period then they descend in the same order.

c) The stars and the rings underneath the tree then light up in sequence red, yellow, blue and green remain lighting for a set period and then descend in the same order.

5) Build up of the tree with the drops and rings building up from one to eight and the stars and the rings underneath the tree build up from one to four the entire tree remains lighting for a set period and descends in the same order.

6) This is a series of designs which are located on four sides of the tree.

These designs consist of two large candles one on each side of the tree towards the top. Two stars in red and blue, which are super imposed on each other. Underneath these are two large Saint Bridgid crosses red and green superimposed on each other.

On the opposite side of the tree are two bells underneath these bells is a large Dove in clear light surrounded by two rings red and blue. The rings around the Dove, saint Bridgids cross, the stars and the bells light alternatively. Producing a change of colours in the stars the cross and the rings and producing the effect of the bells ringing.

On the other two sides of the tree there are two large crackers on in red and the other in green and within the center of the cracker lighting diagonally is the message peace to all.

Underneath the tree is a large Crib featuring the nativity scene. Two scenes one on each side. One showing the shepherds on the hill side being greeted by the angels and on the other three wise men heading towards the star. The nativity scene which has a cave effect which is illuminated by a number of interchanging coloured lights. The scenes on the sides also have interchanging lights, which produce a dawn and dusk effect. At the rear of the crib a door and two windows which depict the Bethlehem inn.

Underneath the canopy, which surrounds the exterior their are, interchanging red and amber lights which completely transform the exterior colour scheme.

The entire switching cycle takes approximately three minutes to complete and between the tree and the crib, approximately two and a half thousand coloured bulbs are used.