They won’t be switched on for a few weeks yet.

But there was a whisper of the festive season in the air across the city today as huge Christmas trees appeared in some of Cork’s busiest areas.

The prep has begun in earnest on the Grand Parade and St Patrick Street, where two gorgeous green firs are now taking pride of place outside Brown Thomas and at the entrance to French Church Street.

✨🎄It’s beginning to look a lot like…🤫

🎅Too soon?!#Christmas2021 pic.twitter.com/ZjRgCDumcG

— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) November 4, 2021

Another huge tree is now in place outside the Crawford Art Gallery on Emmet Place, with two more at the end of Shandon Street and outside City Hall on Anglesea Street and a further towering tree peeping out above the fencing outside the Triskel Christchurch on South Main Street.

Cornmarket Street has been given its festive centrepiece too and the twinkling Christmas lights have also been strung across Opera Lane, ready for the big switch-on later this month.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Cork! Today I tried to find as many Christmas trees as I could when walking around the city.

Do you think it’s too early or is it nice to be getting into the festive mood five days after Halloween?#Cork #CorkCity #Christmas pic.twitter.com/GJeTtdVHW3

— Geography World (@GeographyWorld2) November 5, 2021

Meanwhile, LEO Cork City has announced details of a workshop geared towards retail owners and managers who want to improve the visual merchandising aspects of their window and shop interior displays for Christmas.

London-based merchandiser Lara Curry will be leading the online tutorial on Monday, November 15th and tickets are €10 here.