VIDEO: Tommy Quinn's Castletown garden is a Christmas Wonderland

At 6pm precisely, Tommy Quinn started the countdown. Families from all across the county had gathered inside his Castletown garden to see him turn on the lights on what has become one of the best and brightest Christmas displays anywhere in the country. And it didn't disappoint. It never does!

Tommy Quinn has been lighting up his house and Garden for Christmas for the past 20 years and his Christmas lights are famous far and wide.

This year, like every year, he has added even more lights to his twinkling collection which he switched on last Friday, 8th December.
Among the lights was a decorated tractor, in memory of his late son Mark, who was a tractor fanatic. 
Tommy began putting up his huge Christmas lights collection when his own children were little and they now delight his eight grandchildren, as well as children from all across the north east.
“My grandchildren give me a hand, setting them up, and Margaret, my wife, is the safety officer,” he explains. “Although she cannot keep still, in case she finds herself covered in lights,” he laughs.
Tommy (69) is a former OPW employee and retired a few years ago.
Everybody is welcome in his garden. “I love to see people coming. The people of the parish love to see the lights going on and people come from all over Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan to see them,” he says.
Tommy runs a generator to keep the lights running - it would cost an absolute fortune otherwise. As it is, the colourful display costs him about €700 in diesel to run.
Tommy continues to add to the lights every year and loves to find some kind of unusual light - and has often sent to the US for  something different.
As it is the house and garden a spectacular sight. “We haven't been seen from outer space yet, but we might be some day,” he says.
“I love to bring a little joy to people's lives and I do it all in honour of my son, Mark.
“I will keep putting on the lights, until my own lights go out,” he said.