Eyre Square Christmas stalls

dinneenp · 13-08-2010 10:43am #1

link here.

It's a good addition. (I'm sure peoople will complain that stuff are expensive..)
the square down by the docks (where the boats village was) that's now just empty could have been a good option as well.

Up to 70 stalls and chalets to operate for a month
by Dearbhla Geraghty

Galway will join locations like Vienna, Dresden and Copenhagen in having its very own Christmas Market, due to take place over a month this coming winter.

It is envisaged that between November 19 and December 19 there will be up to 70 stalls and wooden alpine chalets within the perimeters of Eyre Square, comprising one third of local specialist traders and the remainder international sellers, along with a Santa’s grotto, a German ‘Bierkeller’, an entertainment area, and public toilets. It is said to require a capital investment of more than €100,000.

“The Galway City Business Association (GCBA) have been working on this for two years with the City Council and City manager in bringing the first Christmas market of a continental and local nature to Ireland,” GCBA co-ordinator, Declan McDonnell told the Galway City Tribune yesterday.

“There’s been one in Belfast for the past six years but never one in Dublin or Cork. The guy who’s running the one in Belfast came to us through a contact we had.

“All the major businesses in Galway are behind this; the ‘footfall’ in Belfast has been huge, 61% of those who visited the market went on to shop in Belfast as well, and 50% used the restaurants and bars. A lot of people come from outside Belfast to the market, and we will be promoting our market within a 90-mile radius of Galway. It will not be taking away from the ordinary Christmas shopping.”

He added that Fáilte Ireland was also supporting the project, and planning to promote it in a major campaign later in the year. The GCBA have also been in touch with Irish Rail with a similar view.

The proposal has to go through a planning process first, however, and the plans have been available for inspection at Galway City Council since yesterday and will remain there until September 23.

dilallio · 13-08-2010 10:56am

I wonder if An Taisce will lodge an objection - the Grinch Clause :rolleyes:

galah · 13-08-2010 12:44pm

great idea! finally, a bit of culture and Christmas spirit - just hope they'll be allowed to sell mulled wine, to make it complete!

(although they'll probably make a sh*te out of Eyre square - so maybe the area by the docks would be better, it terms of access, parking, connections, and surface...).

Sponge Bob · 13-08-2010 1:58pm

dilallio wrote: »

I wonder if An Taisce will lodge an objection - the Grinch Clause :rolleyes:

If they are to be left there overnight they will need to apply for planning permission and that is when An Taisce will strike

. Of course the stallholders will also have to pay business rates on these stalls as well as rent.

Mrs OBumble · 13-08-2010 6:41pm

I saw a planning permission notice as the lads were putting it up in Eyre Square yesterday.

My first thought was that it's a bit odd: Ireland just isn't continental Europe.

But ahh sure'n if it brings the tourists in for longer it must be a good thing

Xiney · 13-08-2010 7:14pm

woohoo!

I wonder if they'll have punsch as well??? And sell little mugs specific to the market?? oh this is exciting

Das Kitty · 13-08-2010 8:13pm

That's great! I love walking around Christmas markets even if I can't buy anything there's just a lovely atmosphere. Hopefully they'll have mulled wine.

Jammyd · 13-08-2010 8:27pm

Glühwein mit Schuss mmmmmmm

hopwitch · 13-08-2010 9:08pm

Anyone any idea about how us crafty types would go about getting a stall? Or would it all be established retailers?

pleasant Co. · 14-08-2010 2:04am

I really hope it doesn't end up just being the usual sat/sun market crowd relocated to eyre Sq, would be an awful shame if that ends up happening.

sidenote: I like the sat/sun market, and I'm assuming that area would stay operation during the xmas month

GalwayMarion · 15-08-2010 10:11am

Exciting news, I can't wait for it to be honest, and am wondering if it will be restricted to the retailers already in town or to people from Galway county as well?

dinneenp · 18-08-2010 9:00pm

local business are complaining; saying that it'll take business away from them. Personally I can't see this. I live in Lackagh, don't visit town shopping that often. With the market in place I'd be more likely to visit and after the markets would probably wander down Shop Street...

alibabba · 18-08-2010 9:22pm

This could be brilliant. Galway is ideal for this. Eyre square would suit better, the docks would have a cold damp feeling about it.

Fuinseog · 18-08-2010 10:24pm

dinneenp wrote: »

link here.

It's a good addition. (I'm sure peoople will complain that stuff are expensive..)
the square down by the docks (where the boats village was) that's now just empty could have been a good option as well.

Up to 70 stalls and chalets to operate for a month
by Dearbhla Geraghty

Galway will join locations like Vienna, Dresden and Copenhagen in having its very own Christmas Market, due to take place over a month this coming winter.

It is envisaged that between November 19 and December 19 there will be up to 70 stalls and wooden alpine chalets within the perimeters of Eyre Square, comprising one third of local specialist traders and the remainder international sellers, along with a Santa’s grotto, a German ‘Bierkeller’, an entertainment area, and public toilets. It is said to require a capital investment of more than €100,000.

“The Galway City Business Association (GCBA) have been working on this for two years with the City Council and City manager in bringing the first Christmas market of a continental and local nature to Ireland,” GCBA co-ordinator, Declan McDonnell told the Galway City Tribune yesterday.

“There’s been one in Belfast for the past six years but never one in Dublin or Cork. The guy who’s running the one in Belfast came to us through a contact we had.

“All the major businesses in Galway are behind this; the ‘footfall’ in Belfast has been huge, 61% of those who visited the market went on to shop in Belfast as well, and 50% used the restaurants and bars. A lot of people come from outside Belfast to the market, and we will be promoting our market within a 90-mile radius of Galway. It will not be taking away from the ordinary Christmas shopping.”

He added that Fáilte Ireland was also supporting the project, and planning to promote it in a major campaign later in the year. The GCBA have also been in touch with Irish Rail with a similar view.

The proposal has to go through a planning process first, however, and the plans have been available for inspection at Galway City Council since yesterday and will remain there until September 23.

no mention of punch or mulled wine.
the cost of things could be an issue. in dublin at these markets they charge 5 euro for a hotdog, which is a bit steep

Fuinseog · 18-08-2010 10:25pm

galah wrote: »

great idea! finally, a bit of culture and Christmas spirit - just hope they'll be allowed to sell mulled wine, to make it complete!

(although they'll probably make a sh*te out of Eyre square - so maybe the area by the docks would be better, it terms of access, parking, connections, and surface...).

I thought we did not celebrate christmas anymore after we good rid of our christian shackles. maybe it should be termed Winterfest instead.

Fuinseog · 18-08-2010 10:27pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

If they are to be left there overnight they will need to apply for planning permission and that is when An Taisce will strike . Of course the stallholders will also have to pay business rates on these stalls as well as rent.

aha, hence the exorbitant prices

pleasant Co. · 18-08-2010 10:34pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

I thought we did not celebrate christmas anymore after we good rid of our christian shackles. maybe it should be termed Winterfest instead.

Ah yes, but good 'ol christian Santa and all the gifts he distributes around the world lives on....that was in the bible right? old testament I believe? memory's a bit foggy since the unshackling.

antonf · 18-08-2010 11:09pm

I think I read that there won't be rent charged for the first year of this.

dinneenp · 19-08-2010 9:24am

BIG BOOOO if there's no mulled wine...

pleasant Co. · 19-08-2010 9:27am

dinneenp wrote: »

BIG BOOOO if there's no mulled wine...

I'd be shocked if one of the pubs/hotels around eyre square didn't have you covered...shocked I might be though!

el_gaucho · 25-10-2010 4:22pm

does anyone know if the market is still going ahead? There was supposed to be a meeting about it on Thursday but I haven't heard what happened.

dolphin city · 27-10-2010 7:53am

the market has been cancelled as far as I know. The guards won't allow the alcohol stalls and the market won't go ahead without the alcohol.

Its all over.

We'll just have to stick to our lovely LOCAL market which is there every Saturday.

alibabba · 27-10-2010 8:00am

dolphin city wrote: »

the market has been cancelled as far as I know. The guards won't allow the alcohol stalls and the market won't go ahead without the alcohol.

Its all over.

We'll just have to stick to our lovely LOCAL market which is there every Saturday.

Well TV3 reported its all systems go last nite on the 5.30pm news ?