14 December 2018

The classic Christmas train, the Imperial Express is back at Cork’s Imperial Hotel this festive season to capture the imaginations of children and win the hearts of the inner child in all of us. Now on display in the foyer of the hotel, the impressive model train is a must-see for anybody visiting Cork City centre over the Christmas holidays. Once again, the hotel is inviting people to make a donation when they visit the attraction, with all proceeds going to the hotel’s charity partner, Pieta House.

The Imperial Hotel, located right in the heart of Cork City, offers a cosy retreat where people can escape from the hustle and bustle of the shopping rush and experience the fun of Christmas with all the family. Throughout the festive period, families and friends are invited to experience the magic of Christmas at the hotel and sip on mulled wine or hot chocolate as they watch the train chug around the tracks in its winter wonderland.

Frits Potgieter, General Manager of the Imperial Hotel said “We are very excited that the Imperial Express has arrived at the Imperial Hotel for the holiday season. Visiting the train set has become a Christmas tradition for families and friends from near and far. There is a very special atmosphere in the foyer when the Imperial Express is in town. It is always great to see the faces of both children and adults light up when they first set eyes on the train set against our decorative backdrop. This year, we are delighted to be supporting our fantastic charity partner, Pieta House.”

Visiting the Imperial Express is completely free of charge but there will be a voluntary donation box in the foyer, with all funds going to Pieta House, an organisation which does fantastic work in the area of mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

This is the first year of the Imperial Hotel’s charity partnership with Pieta House; and in October the hotel hosted a hugely successful Black Tie Gala Ball, with the glamorous event raising over €11,000 for the charity. The Imperial has organised a number of other events throughout the year to support Pieta House and it is hoped that this special attraction at the Imperial Hotel will build on this success.

Darran Coyle Garde, Funding and Advocacy Officer at Pieta House said “We are so grateful for the absolutely amazing support given by the Imperial Hotel to Pieta House throughout the course of 2018. It is great that Pieta House will benefit from what is a fabulous Christmas experience. We are urging everyone to visit the foyer in the hotel and soak up some of the heartwarming Christmas spirit. The support of the Imperial Hotel has been crucial in helping Pieta House continue in the delivery of vital services for those affected by suicide. This work takes on an additional importance during the holidays, which can be a very emotionally challenging time for many.”

For further information on the Imperial Hotel visit www.imperialhotelcork.com, and for further information on Pieta House visit www.pieta.ie.