Darragh's Soapbox: Are you in the Christmas spirit?

Waterford is getting its annual festive facelift, and preparations are underway for this year's Winterval celebrations.

The City of Christmas is coming together, and works have quickly been advancing in the past week.

Cherry pickers and cranes are dispersed across the town, raising lights and constructing market huts.

Shop windows are one-by-one being adorned with lights, and on the quay, the ice rink has quickly taken shape.

The Waterford News & Star took to the streets of the city centre this week to gauge the excitement of locals over the mid-November Christmas developments.

Most said they were delighted to see the festive preparations commence, whilst others said they wished that the city had even more lights.

One local said that although parts of the city look very festive, others are neglected, and left in darkness, void of any Christmas cheer.

"I think we should have been investing especially in the lights," they said.

"We should have big lights on the bridge, out on the Cork Road and all the main entry points to the city, to announce to visitors that they are arriving into the City of Christmas."

Jenny Kervick, meanwhile, said that the decorations have already lifted the mood of the town.

“I think it all helps for the atmosphere of the city and makes it more lively for people who come visiting. It puts people in a good mood."

Breda said that the decorations around the city being installed so early may result in visitors choosing to visit Waterford over Dublin or Cork.

"The lights give the city a feel-good factor and every year it's getting better. We need that kind of investment into the city," she said.

Waterford local Kathleen added, "We need to have an atmosphere in the city, and the lights for Winterval do that. We don’t even mind the weather when the lights are on!"