View Full Version : Westport's Ugly Christmas Tree
Thunderblaster
24/11/2006, 7:39 PM
It was a pleasure to see the artifical Christmas tree that was erected in Westport blown over by the storm on Wednesday night. To put it mildly, it was aesthetically ugly when it was erected and caused controversy in the town the last two years. The first year, the council struggled to erect it due to the instructions in French (Parlez-vous francais?). ;) Last year it did not come down until mid February due to "storage" reasons. The real trees looked nice on the Octagon but this artificial one really grated me. I had two wishes for it: 1. It would be blown over by a storm and 2. Get struck by lightning. Locals have put varying costs on the tree but saw it as an expensive rip off. I had the pleasure of taking a picture of it on my mobile phone and then sending 40-50 texts to friends. Even one councillor could not contain his delight on its demise. I hope that this tree will never, ever be erected in Westport ever again!! It couldn't have happened to a nicer Christmas tree!!:rolleyes:
Raheny Red
24/11/2006, 7:46 PM
Upload the pic :D
Thunderblaster
24/11/2006, 8:58 PM
In trying to upload the picture, that is all I got!!:(
Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage
Most likely causes:
You are not connected to the Internet.
The website is encountering problems.
There might be a typing error in the address.
What you can try:
Diagnose Connection Problems
Picture of tree...
The locals lampooned it, now let the nation desecrate it!!!:D
Another picture from different angle!
Thunderblaster
24/11/2006, 9:38 PM
Got it at last!! Sit back, relax and enjoy and laugh at the great demise of that ugly piece of thrash that crashed to the ground and good riddance to it!!:D :D :D
http://www.foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=618&stc=1&d=1164407670
Thunderblaster
25/11/2006, 2:02 PM
I heard last night that the Town Council are going to erect a nice, natural tree in its place!!:) :D
Raheny Red
25/11/2006, 4:09 PM
:D The state of that tree, I have seen some fake trees in my time that kinda resemble the real thing but that just looks like something that you would see in Noddy :D
SligoBrewer
25/11/2006, 4:25 PM
is pete's pic the same tree?
Thunderblaster
26/11/2006, 6:35 PM
is pete's pic the same tree?
Indeed it is!!
Thunderblaster
26/11/2006, 6:43 PM
WTC have lowered their flag to half mast and declared seven days of local mourning. RIP. Remains of the Christmas Tree will repose in McGing's Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 5:30, leaving at 7:00 to St. Mary's Church. Funeral Mass on Thursday at 11:00 with burial afterwards in Aughavale Cemetery!!:p :D
Also, a new song has been released by a local musician. It is called "Knocking It Down, The Christmas Tree!!":D
SligoBrewer
27/11/2006, 9:16 AM
Indeed it is!!
oh its hideious!
Thunderblaster
27/11/2006, 5:26 PM
Knocking it down, the Christmas Tree
at the happy Octagon
Ugliness sprung where you can see
Ev'ry couple tries to chop
You will get a tempermental feeling When you view it minging
"Hear the wally; Deck the town with a big ould folly"
Knocking it down, the Christmas Tree
That you have got to pay
Everyone's dancing merrily
When it is taken away
Knocking it down, the Christmas Tree
Let the Stormy Spirit sing
Bolts of lightning have split the sky
And the council do some grovelling
You will get a tempermental feeling When you view it minging
"Hear the wally; Deck the town with a big ould folly"
Knocking it down, the Christmas Tree
That you have got to pay
Everyone's dancing merrily
When it is taken away
Would be nice if there was a decent singer that can record the song in the studio and play it on www.foot.ie, the world's favourite website!!;) :D
Thunderblaster
27/11/2006, 5:57 PM
The chattering classes in Westport, in their wisdom, inform us that (a) the tree was allegedly not insured :eek: and (b) it is allegedly coming back to haunt us next year:mad: . Any Westport forumite out there able to concur with this unofficial information spouting around the town?:confused:
Thunderblaster
29/11/2006, 11:24 PM
A natural Christmas tree has been erected and I took a picture of it.
The thrashy tree that got decapitated got a write up on the local rag!!
Thunderblaster
01/12/2006, 5:20 PM
A natural Christmas tree has been erected and I took a picture of it.
Justice Is Being Served!!.jpg
What do you think boys and girls?
Thunderblaster
01/12/2006, 5:57 PM
Oops!
The half-assembled Christmas tree at The Octagon in Westport took a tumble last week, thanks to some strong mid-week winds.
The artificial tree, boasting 40,000 lights, has been the centrepiece of the town's lighting arrangement over the past few years.
According to the town clerk, Ms. Ann Moore, town council staff were in the process of putting up the tree last week when strong winds on Wednesday night/Thursday morning saw it blown over. The tree, she explained, normally takes a few days to put together.
Fortunately, no one was injured when it fell and no damage was caused to any vehicles or other property.
The tree, which cost around €20,000, was damaged and the extent of that damage is being examined.
Ms. Moore said the tree would be repaired, but not in time for this Christmas.
A real tree has been sourced and that should be in place this week.
From Wednesday's paper.
Thunderblaster
01/12/2006, 6:43 PM
The views of the Westport-based Mayo News, whose article raised a few eyebrows.
Damaged Christmas tree is irreparable for the festive season
FEARS that Westport would have to do without a Christmas tree as the centrepiece of its seasonal lighting scheme were allayed last week, following a decision by the Town Council to erect a natural tree in place of the artificial tree that was damaged in the storms last week.
The Town Council had started work on erecting the artificial tree and the trunk and the upper layers were in place when winds as strong as 100 and 120kph struck sometime between 11pm and 6am on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. The winds snapped the trunk and the upper layers of the tree were also damaged.
According to the Town Council Architect, Mr Simon Wall, the damage to the tree was such that it was not possible to have it ready for Christmas. "We can get it repaired but not in time for this Christmas. The sections will have to be returned to France and there just isn't enough time to have the work completed," he said.
Despite the disappointment of not having the tree for Christmas, Mr Wall is adamant that the town will look as well as ever with a natural tree. "It means we all have to rally around and that is what is going to happen. It's disappointing for everyone, particularly the children, because the tree looked so well but there is nothing really we could do about it. We had to source a natural tree as quickly as possible and hopefully it will be up and lit by the middle of the week," he said.
Westport Town Council spent in the region of €60,000 on Christmas decorations three years ago, of which about one-third went on the tree. The tree, which was imported from France, had its detractors in the town at first, and there was criticism of the decision by the Council to move away from the natural tree. The tree was dogged by controversy from the first year when it took longer than expected to have it erected. However, as time has moved on, it has become an accepted part of Christmas in the town centre with its spectacular lighting system and location at the heart of the Octagon. The Council expects to have it back in working order for Christmas next year.
The Christmas lights in Westport will be officially switched on by Westport Town Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Teresa McGuire, after 7:30pm Mass this Saturday evening. Westport Choral Society will perform carols at the ceremony.
Boys and girls, your feedbck is important on this article. The locals thougt that it was balloney and did not like the apology for no artificial tree. The apology should be for spending excessive money on an eyesore. The article has miscalculated the mood of the public over the tree IMO.
What do you think boys and girls?
The original one was better. Nice symmetry to it. :)
Thunderblaster
02/12/2006, 9:25 PM
The weather is currently stormy and let's hope that the real tree stays up!!;) :) :D
Thunderblaster
06/12/2006, 10:35 PM
The tree withstood the storm and is still intact and looking beautifu with the lights switched on!!:D
Moral of the story: Anything imposed against the will of the people will get punished:D , hence what happened to that ugly, Noddyesque pile of junk two weeks ago. I hope that the French are smashing it to pieces. One local rumour doing the rounds is that it will cost €30,000 to repair the tree:eek: . That is something that Eddie Hobbs may have to investigate!!
Thunderblaster
22/12/2006, 10:59 PM
http://www.foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=641&stc=1&d=1166831723
http://www.foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=642&stc=1&d=1166831911
Raheny Red
23/12/2006, 5:40 PM
http://www.foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=641&stc=1&d=1166831723
http://www.foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=642&stc=1&d=1166831911
I can't see anything???
Thunderblaster
23/12/2006, 6:54 PM
I can't see anything???
Uh-oh!!:eek: :eek: :eek:
Thunderblaster
22/11/2007, 9:13 PM
As the christmas decorations are put up by the town council, all eyes are now focused on the Octagon as there is increasing speculation that the Noddyesque ugly piece of thrash is being erected this year. The town is holding its breath and if that eyesore of a disgusting, expensive piece of aesthetic refuse is erected, I hope that there will be tornadoes, lightning or any natural phenomena that will flatten it!! Shame on Westport Town Council!!:mad::mad:
KevB76
23/11/2007, 5:22 PM
Heard on the radio this morning we've got ourselves a recycled tree in Limerick made out of scrap metal :o its got energy saving bulbs apparantly powered by a mini wind turbine which has replaced the conventional star at the top :D
Thunderblaster
23/11/2007, 6:19 PM
My worst fears have been confirmed after the base of the artificial tree was assembled on the Octagon today, It is grotesquely abhorrent, unbelievably stomach churning, frankly bizarre and firmly unprecedented to see such a reviled sight being about to be imposed on the local populace again. Shame on WTC and most people in Westport hate the tree and the people deserve better from the same organisation.:mad::mad::mad:
MojoPin
24/11/2007, 1:58 PM
is thunderblaster 6 post in a row a record?
Thunderblaster
29/11/2007, 9:04 PM
is thunderblaster 6 post in a row a record?
Would have been seven!!:eek::D
Thunderblaster
29/11/2007, 9:08 PM
Boys and girls, the tree, described by a Mayo News journalist as infamous, is well on its way to completion, The beautiful, tranquil settings of the Octagon is being butchered by an abomination of grotesque proportions!!:mad: Looking at the tree now makes me want to vomit!!:eek: Maybe, Noddy should switch on the horrible tree and then poke fun at it!!:D
Thunderblaster
30/11/2007, 7:46 PM
The glorious defenders of that repulsive, artificial, thrashy, noddyesque heap of scrap can now dance a jig as the ever so disgusting, stomach turning, vomit inducing tree is now completed and us poor citizens of Westport have to put up with the rotten thing until after the 6th January at the earliest. I just cringe looking at the dirty thing!!:mad::mad::mad:
Thunderblaster
01/12/2007, 9:04 PM
Last year was the wind, we nearly hit the jackpot with lightning today.:( Pity it didn't hit the tree but there were nearly red faces as the power cut from the thunderstorm could have had serious implications for the switching on ceremony.:D
Can I obtain permission to rename my thread to Westport's Ugly Christmas Tree?
Block G Raptor
02/12/2007, 12:34 PM
Last year was the wind, we nearly hit the jackpot with lightning today.:
Can I obtain permission to rename my thread to Westport's Ugly Christmas Tree?
Did you have a hand in this lightning storm by any chance
strangeirish
02/12/2007, 12:38 PM
Did you have a hand in this lightning storm by any chanceI think he's been hit by lightning, more than once!:D
Thunderblaster
02/12/2007, 1:16 PM
Did you have a hand in this lightning storm by any chance
Would have loved to.:D:D:D
Thunderblaster
08/01/2008, 10:24 PM
Two pictures of that glorious heap of sh*t!!
Thunderblaster
12/01/2008, 11:13 AM
Great news folks!! That heap of sh*t is taken down and gone. Thanks be to God!!:D:D:D
MojoPin
12/01/2008, 12:49 PM
i think it looks great
Thunderblaster
13/01/2008, 2:26 PM
i think it looks great
In a junkyard!!!:D:D:D
Thunderblaster
11/12/2009, 10:03 PM
That pile of crap dominated the skyline last Christmas, but this year, the pile of crap is dysfunctional as a number of the lights are not working, making that embarrassing to the WTC, and acts as a bit of a karma against what is supposed to be a "tree". One of the WTC Outdoor staff goes nearly orgasmic over the tree. Still hate that tree as much as ever.
Mayo.
It gets what it deserves.
Longfordian
12/12/2009, 1:00 AM
Bloody hell you really hate that tree Thunderblaster. For apparently three years you've been posting about it, and yet tragically it appears nobody else is even half as concerned. Let go man it's just a tree..though I defend to the death your right to speak out against said tree etc etc..
Thunderblaster
12/12/2009, 10:51 AM
Let go man it's just a tree.
An ugly artificial tree at that. Council put wire mesh between the base and the tree to avoid sabotage. It is an absolute eyesore. I'd nearly invite you down to Westport to see how disgusting that tree actually is.
Mayo Red
12/12/2009, 11:13 AM
I'd nearly invite you down to Westport to see how disgusting that tree actually is.
And bring him for a night out in the "Cattlecourt"!!;):D
for your sake/pleasure maybe a lightening bolt will strike it and set it alight
that will be 2 topics you can post about then;):D:p
Thunderblaster
12/12/2009, 6:19 PM
And bring him for a night out in the "Cattlecourt"!!;):D
And pick up the finest of chicks!!:D
Mad Moose
15/12/2009, 12:16 PM
Well after reading this from start to finish I still have yet to see a picture of this tree which has caused so much angst around Westport. Not one of the links worked on the picture. A few minutes of my life I'll never get back.
dahamsta
15/12/2009, 1:41 PM
I can't help but think Thunderblaster might be a little obsessed with this tree. I hope it hasn't rebuffed his advances.
I can't help but think Thunderblaster might be a little obsessed with this tree. I hope it hasn't rebuffed his advances.
You know what they say, hell hath no fury like a tree-hugger scorned.
Thunderblaster
16/12/2009, 5:57 PM
Well after reading this from start to finish I still have yet to see a picture of this tree which has caused so much angst around Westport. Not one of the links worked on the picture. A few minutes of my life I'll never get back.
There were pictures of the tree on this page two years ago.
Picture of the tree!!
I can't help but think Thunderblaster might be a little obsessed with this tree. I hope it hasn't rebuffed his advances.
Cannot picture myself having sex with the tree!!:eek::D
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.