History was made with the flick of a switch as Christmas lights were turned on for the first time in a Belfast district.
Despite being a major road, there has never been festive illumination on the Grosvenor Road in the west of the city - until now.
But after campaigning by locals, grey lampposts now have a blue sparkle which cheered up local kids who turned up for the big reveal.
Tina Black, a Sinn Féin councillor in the area, says the new lights will help make people living in the area “feel like they’re part of the Christmas spirit you can see all over the city, especially at City Hall which is only a mile away”.
Previously, locals have held a Grosvenor Lights Up event at the community garden on Distillery Street that sees young people decorate Christmas tree baubles with images of loved ones they have lost. But Wednesday evening was the first time the Grosvenor Road has had full-scale festive lighting to bring a little sparkle to the area.
Cllr Black said people at Grosvenor Community Centre “along with community partners” worked to secure funding for the new lights which were switched on with the help of Lord Mayor Frank McCoubrey.
She added: “Every year the centre has held a Grosvenor Lights Up festive event to remember those we miss, to look back on the year, to remember that we can overcome problems and to look to the future.
"This includes making festive decorations helping children to express their views via creativity. The children also created art pieces around people they missed or admired. The programme has always been about positivity, understanding change, hope and looking forward.
“For 2020, Grosvenor Community Centre were super delighted to access small grant funding via the Belfast City Council Festive programme for illumination. This support has enabled the Grosvenor Road to become a bright and festive road over Christmas and includes lighting up of venues such as Grosvenor House Hostel, managed by the Salvation Army.
“Belfast City Council has helped this historic road, housing large residential communities, businesses and schools to shine brightly when welcoming 2021.”
Cllr Black added that the idea behind lighting up the Grosvenor Road came from her mum Belle Black, a founding member of Grosvenor Community Centre, who passed away in 2017.
She added: “Belle often commented on the number of Royal Victoria Hospital staff and patients who used the route, particularly those coming off or going on night shift in the winter months.
“Belle wanted to make the road brighter for them and for her beloved local community.”
