Hundreds of colourful baubles have appeared on the Ballybofey/Stranorlar footbridge in celebration of Women’s Little Christmas.
The Ballybofey & Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce project, which began in December 2018, invited everyone in the community to personalise their own bauble for a friend or family member.
The eye-catching exhibition contains festive decorations with messages, mementoes and photos of local women. Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and well-known local figures including poetess Frances Browne are honoured in the display.
The baubles were hung up on Saturday 5th January and will remain until the end of today (Women’s Little Christmas). All the decorations are individually lit, creating a beautiful effect along the riverside at nightfall.
Women’s Little Christmas Exhibition over the River Finn Footbridge
All profits from the exhibition are being donated to the North West Simon Community and their work preventing homelessness and hidden homelessness in the North West.
Leah Fairman of Ballybofey & Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce explains, “Women’s Little Christmas is a special occasion dedicated to all the women in our lives who work so hard day in and day out. It’s a chance to recognise them and to say ‘thank you’.”
Collette Ferguson, NW Simon Community and Leah Fairman, Ballybofey and Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce
Messages came from local schools and people living abroad who wanted to send a message to friends and family at home in the Twin Towns.
The exhibition especially recognises women who have passed on and those who struggle behind closed doors against many problems, including homelessness and domestic abuse.
Ms Fairman added: “Our beautiful new footbridge is the ideal place to display the messages in a prominent location at the heart of the towns. And we are delighted to support the important work of North West Simon Community with this event. Their work, highlighting the hidden problem of homelessness in the North West, is vital especially at this time of year.”
Collette Ferguson, of North West Simon Community, says Homelessness strikes in the heart of our communities here in Donegal which is most often “hidden” from the public eye. She added that the North West Simon Community figures have risen by 25% in comparison to this time last year.
If you or someone you know are in need of support please contact North West Simon Community on: 074 9121613 or complete the self-referral form online at: www.northwestsimon.ie
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