In Reply to: re: memories of christmas in castlebar. posted by giant haystacks on November 29, 2007 at 20:36:00:

Shops in Castlebar would not put in their christnas window displays until December 8th. In our shop I used to look forward to Cadbury merchandiser Mr. Derek Biddulph coming to put in our window display. (Mr. Biddulph is now a famous artist based in Galway.)

The displays were spectaculiar with chocolate boxes depicting Victorian Christmas or Alpine scenes.

The other highlight was the Sale of Work in the Town Hall organised by the Church of Ireland community in the town.A visit to Santa on the stage was special. Mr. Norman(Player-Wills representative)organised a Wheel of Fortune for this event. Mr.Norman lived in Station road.

As time went on this event was organised every second year by Church of Ireland & Western Care.

The Waits, The Wren Boys, Jack the Bladder, Margadh Mor were all part and parcel of a Castlebar Christmas.

Brian Hoban.