Artificial Christmas trees could be bought for the borough next year in the ‘ho-ho-hope’ of silencing the year-after-year ‘size matters’ mantra which echoes widely around towns and villages.
It is an ‘evergreen’ complaint and just not ‘fir’ for residents, who are left ‘pining’ for a specimen to ‘spruce’ up their areas and feeling ‘needled’ by the lack thereof.
This year, storm damage has claimed the Christmas number one spot among the reasons why the trees, for many, do not scream fun and festive.
But it is beyond the control of officers, councillors have been told, who are now working behind the scenes to ensure locals are not left bereft of a tree to inject a sense of seasonal satisfaction next year.
That was the upshot of the tongue-in-cheek entreaty of a local councillor who kickstarted a brief but entertaining interlude at Monday’s monthly meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
Ulster Unionist Alderman Glenn Barr shone the spotlight on a short-changed Rathfriland’s underwhelming offering.
Having witnessed a “widespread public outcry” to councillors, accompanied by “a bit of slagging, a load of messages and a few phone calls” to boot, Alderman Barr gallantly galloped to the Co Down town to conduct his own personal opinion poll.
So, one for all and all for one, he turned to the voice of youth – his “three marketeers”, as he described them – “to do a bit of research”.
And the children, all under the age of 10, duly noted three things concerning the Rathfriland tree.
“They said it was nice, it was bushy, it was nice and bushy, but it’s not very tall!” explained Alderman Barr.
And to endorse those findings, he added: “Whenever we came up from the Banbridge Road, we could hardly see the top of the Christmas tree with the cars parked there!”
Keeping with his light-hearted theme, he accepted there were problems but made his plea regardless.
“I realise it’s been a very bad year; we’ve had storm damage to a lot of trees throughout Northern Ireland,” said the local alderman. “So what I would like to ask is that we tick three boxes. If officers could go away, have a look, scour Northern Ireland, scour the Republic, scour GB or wherever, to see if they can hit all three boxes that the boys were asking for: nice, bushy and tall enough to represent the people and community of Rathfriland and the young people.
“That is my ask. It’s nothing major. It’s just to go and have a look and see can they champion these boys and the wider community.”
Local DUP Councillor Ian Wilson said he had to agree, adding: “I myself was inundated with complaints, tagged on Facebook, messages and things. With social media now people have an instant platform to complain. And yes, I have to agree with a lot of the complaints. The tree in Rathfriland was very miserable looking.”
That said, Councillor Wilson accepted there were “problems sourcing trees” and thanked the officer in charge for an update.
“It’s welcome that we’re getting a report now in February to hopefully alleviate this problem,” he said.
“It seems to be in this chamber that the issue with Christmas trees is as traditional as turkey and ham.”
Referencing complaints last year in Keady regarding the tree there and this year in Rathfriland, Councillor Wilson summed up: “We just wanted to raise this issue and we don’t want to be here next year again, because you look at what other towns are getting and it’s trying to be fair.”
Alliance Councillor Joy Ferguson also backed what had been said and suggested: “Consultation with the traders and Rathfriland Regeneration would be really important for next year, so that they’re happy with the tree, the location of the tree, and the street lights as well.”
It fell on Elizabeth Reaney, Director of Regulatory Services, Facilities and Assets, to flag a possible alternative going forward, which had already been outlined to party leaders regarding issues with trees, not least the damage inflicted by storms.
She said the head of department had personally gone out to choose the trees this year “because of the pressure that staff were under to get the best”.
“He was out – he was one of the earliest councils out – to select, so we have certainly done our best as officers,” added Ms Reaney.
And looking forward to 2026, the officer confirmed: “We hope to bring a report back in February and we will need to look at artificial trees and the options around that and the costs around that.
“So certainly bear with us until February/March time. We will review where we are at the moment and then bring a report back to you with costings of artificial trees.
“The situation will not be improving, so I think we have to look at this.”
