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15 Mar 2026
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15 Mar 2026
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Melanie Hanley and Conor Hanley outside their home in Kickham Street, Clonmel. Picture: Michael Boland
It’s one of the most recognisable houses in Clonmel. And its appearance is responsible for lifting the collective spirit, and brightening many a gloomy day for people in the town.
You can almost track the passing of the seasons from the colourful decorations that adorn the front of the Hanley household in Kickham Street.
Right now, it’s festooned in green in anticipation of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
“It starts with Valentine’s Day, followed by St Patrick’s Day and Easter,” explains Conor Hanley.
“We take a break until Halloween, and that’s followed by the Christmas decorations”.
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The Christmas display is the largest and the most meaningful of the year for the family, as it was the favourite time of the year for Conor’s late father Fergus, who died almost six years ago.
Conor first started to assemble and display the flags, bunting and inflatable objects during Covid.
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“We always decorated the house and garden but it really took off during Covid,” he explains.
“There was such doom and gloom during Covid that we decided to do this to brighten people’s day.
“People are always stopping outside the house to take a look, and take pictures. They enjoy it and ask about the next display,” says Conor, who lives with his mother Melanie and older brother Declan.
The front of the house also bears a plaque in memory of Conor’s late uncle Vincent Hanley, the famous DJ and television presenter who was synonymous with the hit music videos programme MT USA back in the 1980s. The house was Vincent’s family home, where he lived with Fergus and their parents Mick and Joan.
“People also post favourable comments about the decorations on Facebook. We try to do something new so that it’s not the same display every time”.
Conor says he tries to buy as many items as possible locally, and support local businesses. When that’s not possible, he sources some items such as inflatables online.
You can rest assured that he’s already planning the Easter show.
In the meantime, the St Patrick’s Day “exhibition” is there for all to enjoy.
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