10/03/2011

Limerick's 'Festive Tree' Takes Another Tumble

Limerick's accident-prone metal Christmas tree has taken another tumble - this time into the Shannon.

Designed as a permanent feature riverside, city-centre feature, plans to light it green for St Patrick's Day were today up in the air as efforts were made to lift it from the river.

The tree was placed in the river for Christmas 2007 and has been there since. Standing 100ft high, it was made from metal waste when the old Thomond Park was dismantled.

Spokeswoman for the Limerick Co-ordination Office, Laura Ryan, commented: "I have been in contact with the city council to see where we go from here. The tree was retained on the river to be an attraction.

"It was planned to light it green for St Patrick's Day and to light it red when Munster are playing at Thomond Park. At other times of the year, it was intended to light in various colours.

"The plan is to keep it on the river as it would be very expensive to store, given its size and using it with different colours during the year is a very cost-effective way of retaining it."

Last year the tree was swept down river by huge floods. It was saved from being completely washed down into the estuary when it struck the Shannon Bridge.

A crane recovered the metal tree, which was returned to its stand at Howley's Quay.

The current problems surrounding the tree stem from a malfunction with the pump used to keep it buoyant.

(JG/GK)

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