Armagh City Banbridge Craigavon (ABC) Council plans to track attendance at its Christmas light switch-on events internally after questioning figures from an external provider.

The provider reported decreases across most borough areas for 2025 compared to 2024. Attendance rose only in Banbridge and Rathfriland, where 2024 events faced poor weather.

In Portadown, numbers fell from 3,000 to 2,000. Lurgan saw a drop from 3,000 to 2,500. Dromore declined from 1,500 to 1,200.

Smaller towns recorded similar reductions. Markethill went from 800 to 300. Keady dropped from 600 to 350. Tandragee fell from 1,200 to 450. Richhill decreased from 400 to 250.

Alderman Paul Greenfield raised doubts about the counts at the economic development and regeneration committee meeting. He noted large drops despite changes to events that appeared successful on site.

Paul Tamati, director of development and community wellbeing, said council staff challenged the provider on the data's reliability. He indicated some figures relied on assumptions and varied by counter, leading to plans for in-house methods.

Councillor Kyle Savage suggested involving local communities and school choirs to boost future events. Independent Unionist Alderman Paul Berry questioned Tandragee's count, citing 400 selection boxes distributed and positive vendor feedback.

SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon attributed Keady's lower numbers to a local primary school show that drew 600 people. He called for early 2026 planning to avoid date clashes.