Driving through the dark winding roads of the Beara Peninsula this Christmas season, there’s a stretch of road in Rossmacowen beneath the dark silhouette of Hungry Hill where one property, ablaze with glittering Christmas lights of every shape and size, is drawing crowds of excited children and adults to gaze at the display.

Ciana and Caden Regan posting their letter to Santa and the wonderful Christmas light display in Castletownbere. The display in in aid of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland Picture: Anne Marie Cronin Photography

The Christmas lights extravaganza, named Believe in the Magic is the work of Jane Carleton and her family who have always decked their home in lights for Christmas, but as their house can’t be seen from the road, Jane says they wanted everyone to enjoy them and so decided to move their light displays nearer to the entrance to their property.

‘We love Christmas in our house, and putting up lots of lights and we wanted to share the enjoyment they give us with everyone else.’

The name Believe in the Magic explains Jane, came from a sign featuring the phrase which they have had for years.

The family also use their Christmas lights to raise money for charity and in 2024 raised €1240 for the RNLI, this year all money raised will go towards the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in memory of Jane’s mother Agnes.

Setting up such the display involves a lot of time and work, and is basically a year round project says Jane.

‘There isn’t any month that goes by that we don’t talk about Christmas. We start planning the displays in May and June, and then setting it all up in September so that we’re ready to switch on the second week in November.’

It is a real labour of love though stresses Jane and stems from being taken to see Christmas lights as a child.

‘We were brought up with loads of lights around our house and we were the kids in the back of cars going around to see lights on other houses, then I drove my Mum around every year as she loved to see all the lights, and it’s still a tradition in our family driving around to look at the Christmas lights.’

Jane hopes that as well as being an eye-catching spectacle in Beara, Believe in the Magic will also provide a moment of happiness for all those coming to see their lights.

‘For a stressed parent they can take a moment to pause and smile through the chaos, and for those who find the Christmas period hard, we hope the lights will give them a few moments of beauty and joy.’