FRESH TAKE: Keeping the light on in our communities ahead of Christmas

You might have just managed to pack away the Halloween decorations for another year and already there’s places getting ready to switch on their Christmas lights.

Like it or loathe it, the countdown to Christmas is starting earlier and with it the undeniable pressure to spend.
For many households across Donegal, this Christmas will come with more financial strain than festive sparkle. The cost of living remains high, and with every bill and trolley of groceries, the margin for seasonal spending gets tighter.

We’re all going to hear plenty about shopping local in the weeks to come, but it’s not a moral instruction or a slogan to guilt people into spending where they can’t afford. It’s more about looking at where our money goes and what it gives back.

The Donegal News has launched its fifth annual ‘Shop Local’ campaign, encouraging people to support local businesses this Christmas. It’s a message that feels especially relevant, not just because it supports local traders, but because it asks us to think about what kind of communities we want to live in.
When you buy a gift from a local shop, eat in a local café or hire a local service, you’re keeping that circle of support close to home. It’s jobs, sponsorship for local clubs or schools and investment in your local area.

A while back, I wrote about rediscovering the simple pleasure of browsing in a real shop, where you can chat with someone who genuinely cares about what you’re buying. It reminded me that shopping local is more than a transaction; it’s a connection.
And yet, I also understand why that experience has become harder for many people to choose. For one thing, it has to make sense practically. For people to choose to shop locally, it has to feel easy and worthwhile.

That’s where councils and community groups can make a real difference. Simple things help, such as free or reduced parking in December, safer pedestrian areas, and spaces that feel welcoming for families.
Late-night openings, Christmas markets and local voucher schemes also give people a reason to linger rather than rush.
In places like Letterkenny, though, traffic remains a major obstacle. At this time of year, tailbacks and gridlock can test anyone’s patience. It’s no wonder some people think twice before heading into town.

Eamonn Tinney and Sons’ vintage truck leads the ‘Let’s Light It Up Letterkenny’ parade of trucks, cars and tractors decorated with Christmas lights through Letterkenny. The event is held in aid of the Donegal Hospice. Picture: Declan Doherty.

That’s why traders, councils and planners need to work together on small, practical fixes that make local shopping more appealing – things like park-and-stride options, shuttle buses from car parks, or free parking weekends in the run-up to Christmas.
These gestures might seem minor, but they matter. They show that our towns value their communities, that local businesses are supported, and that shopping close to home isn’t just good for the economy, it’s meant to be enjoyable too.
Of course, online shopping isn’t the villain here. It’s convenient, often cheaper, and for many, it’s the only realistic option when juggling work, childcare and a tight budget.

The truth is that most of us now mix the digital and the local depending on time, price and need. In fact, many Donegal businesses have adapted brilliantly, offering click-and-collect services, online ordering and active social media pages. Supporting those local traders online still keeps the money close to home.
But there’s something special about walking through a town in December, from the music and the smell of coffee and mince pies to the familiar faces behind counters. These are the details that online shopping can’t replicate and that give our towns character and warmth.

If they aren’t making a living and shutters come down, we don’t just lose businesses; we lose pieces of our community life.
That’s the crux of why the ‘shop local’ message still matters, even when times are tough. It’s not about guilt or slogans; it’s about recognising that small, everyday choices add up to something much bigger.

So yes, by all means look for value this Christmas. We all have to. But if you can, try to keep some of that spending close to home and in the towns and villages that give Donegal its heart.
Every euro spent locally keeps the lights on, not just in our shops, but in our communities too.

Sabrina Sweeney’s Fresh Take column appears every Thursday in the Donegal News.