Christmas market 2016

cfeeneyinterior

Yea yea it's early but the advertiser doesn't think so. Christmas Party Guide in the paper today. So got me wondering, is the market supposed to be going ahead this year?

biko

Watch these spaces I suppose
http://galwaychristmasmarket.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/galwaychristmasmarket/

Whereisgalway

Hopefully they won't sacrifice Eyre square in order to make a profit

Your Face

The grass!
The grass!

Laviski

going by what they have said if it does go ahead they won't be on the grass but on the tarmac/footh paths.

best place for them is the docks or woodquay and entice local traders....

beardybrewer

I thought it was pretty cool when we had the Winter Wonderland with the ice rink and other rides/stalls by the docks as well as the market. We had visitors that year and they were really impressed with just how much was going on in town.

Agreed it would be nice if the regular market could be incorporated into the city's xmas market. It would be one thing if we had an interesting variety of continental stalls in the market but aside from the first year (different management) this hasn't been the case. Other than the nuns xmas trinkets we've never found anything of interest for sale.

Also, as the market was missing Cranky Yankee's corndogs there really wasn't even much point going there for food. Hopefully he remember's his promise to return this year.

Of course there will I just hope they don't do something stupid and move it from Eyre square as it makes the square such a nice festive place on the run up to Christmas.

tenacious-me

The Spanish Arch version was a bit of a disaster with the weather last year but it was nice when the weather was ok

Mrs OBumble

tenacious-me wrote: »

it was nice when the weather was ok

... which it usually is in the winter in Galway .... Not.




I do hope that the Grass Appreciation Society members who are so fervent about keeping the Christmas market out of Eyre Square are also supporting the council's proposed by-laws which will stop grass being damaged by such pursuits as bicycle riding and ball-sports.

Digital Solitude

The square is amazing when the market is set up, I was totally blown away by it, and loved calling up to the square and down to Sparch to see all the lights and stands.

While it's annoying not having the grass in summer, it's worth it for having the market imo, I hope it is in the square again.

biko

Let's stick to "if", "when" and "where" and leave the grass and the council out of it until OP's actual question is answered.

Wompa1

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

ball-sports.

I knew it was the balls, even when it was the huge stalls and wooden planks they sit on top of, I knew it was the balls!

When the square first re-opened after the demolition (re-design) they banned ball sports too...never seemed to be a problem in the old square. You'd routinely see kids playing soccer, not a bother on them. The grass overgrowing was the biggest problem back then...

Bazzo

I hope so. Some of my fondest memories of living in Galway are wandering around the Christmas market in Eyre square looking at the stalls. And stopping in to the beer tent for a stein or two of course...

pure.conya

Maya Old-fashioned Snag wrote: »

Of course there will I just hope they don't do something stupid and move it from Eyre square as it makes the square such a nice festive place on the run up to Christmas.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

... which it usually is in the winter in Galway .... Not.




I do hope that the Grass Appreciation Society members who are so fervent about keeping the Christmas market out of Eyre Square are also supporting the council's proposed by-laws which will stop grass being damaged by such pursuits as bicycle riding and ball-sports.

when Galwegians and visitors can't even sit in the green area at the centre of our city during the 3 weeks of summer we get every year, 6 months after the market has packed up, then there are serious decisions have to be made over the location of the the market. I'm sorry but the market is neither affordable or attractive to everybody, whereas the green area is free and for everybodies enjoyment. The only time I've spent any money in the market since it started was when Lidl or Aldi had stalls by the fountain for a week and everything was reasonably priced, I refuse to pay the extortionate prices for tacky nonsense from vendors that are not even from the area. shop local and support your local businesses in the run up to Christmas!

irish_major

pure.conya wrote: »

when Galwegians and visitors can't even sit in the green area at the centre of our city during the 3 weeks of summer we get every year, 6 months after the market has packed up, then there are serious decisions have to be made over the location of the the market. I'm sorry but the market is neither affordable or attractive to everybody, whereas the green area is free and for everybodies enjoyment. The only time I've spent any money in the market since it started was when Lidl or Aldi had stalls by the fountain for a week and everything was reasonably priced, I refuse to pay the extortionate prices for tacky nonsense from vendors that are not even from the area. shop local and support your local businesses in the run up to Christmas!

That's one of the most bizarre posts I've ever seen on this forum.

My 2 cents is that i hope common sense prevails and the market goes back to normal in Eyre square.

gordongekko

Ah give him a chance sure who knows he may have just moved from Brazil or somewhere and not be fully aware of the situation.

Broken Hearted Road

Laviski wrote: »

going by what they have said if it does go ahead they won't be on the grass but on the tarmac/footh paths.best place for them is the docks or woodquay and entice local traders....

I love the Christmas market. I love the atmosphere it brings about to Galway. Reading this I see maybe two potential problems

1) the stalls will be spaced out and the market itself will feel empty somewhat.

2) if the stalls are on the paths, tiles or floors are going to have to be laid anyways on the grass for foot traffic. Otherwise people.will be slipping in wet grass and muck conditions and the council's will be opening a big can of worms regarding compensation. The paths will have more grip for people to walk on.

bobbyss

irish_major wrote: »

That's one of the most bizarre posts I've ever seen on this forum.

My 2 cents is that i hope common sense prevails and the market goes back to normal in Eyre square.

I think one or both of those stores sell mostly if not all Irish meats. I agree with the poster. It's basically all overpriced and leaves a mess.

Laviski

sticking to "if", "when" and "where" has kinda gone out the window
If the Christmas market returns in November, it will not be placed on/near the green area. At best it will be placed around the fountain but it would be tiny and not worth it. - not that it was ever worth it in the first place. (excluding the first year ofc)

lets wait n see - planning permission will be submitted soon if it will go ahead or not.

thesandeman

I'm no engineer so don't laugh.
Would placing the stalls on short (maybe 9") stilts help any? Surely 4/6 holes in the ground per stall which could be filled in would cause less damage than having the floors flat on the grass? Or would the lack of natural light ruin it anyway?
I know it couldn't be done with the beer tent due to its size/volume of people, but maybe that could be moved to the concrete area?

Mrs OBumble

Some of the stalls were on platforms last year. But I think that the light thing is an issue. Also that they couldn't cover the entire area, so inevitably some parts of the sacred grass were damaged.

I wonder, if they moved the market someplace else, would GAS station volunteer guides in Eyre Square to show visitors the way to the new location.

bobbyss

How about relocating to Woodquay. Only problem is relocating the cars. It's central and no damage to any grass. If punters want to spend their money on overpriced tosh, they can do it there.

gordongekko

How about just getting rid of the grass once and for all.

WallyGUFC

More concrete!

ben.schlomo

bobbyss wrote: »

How about relocating to Woodquay. Only problem is relocating the cars. It's central and no damage to any grass. If punters want to spend their money on overpriced tosh, they can do it there.

And close Woodquay to traffic? Daft. The Square, Spanish Arch and Docks are the three obvious and sensible locations.

bobbyss

bobbyss wrote: »

How about relocating to Woodquay. Only problem is relocating the cars. It's central and no damage to any grass. If punters want to spend their money on overpriced tosh, they can do it there.

And reduce parking and residents parking significantly when we have the absolutely perfect place for a market already called Eyre Square?

Its this sort of thing that Eyre square was made for i.e. markets. An empty dark and boring Eyre square will be a significant black mark on Christmas in Galway if it happens.

As for spending money on over priced tosh, the only thing I ever bought in the market is a coffee and many many pints of beer in the beer tent I go there for the atmosphere and look forward to it every year.

Maya Old-fashioned Snag

Maya Old-fashioned Snag wrote: »

Its this sort of thing that Eyre square was made for i.e. markets. An empty dark and boring Eyre square will be a significant black mark on Christmas in Galway if it happens.

The top of Eyre Square was used for markets, the grassy part is closed off in the 1651 pictorial map of Galway and was fenced off until recently.

flazio

Could they get away with closing a car park for a while? Cathedral car park for example?

bobbyss

ben.schlomo wrote: »

And close Woodquay to traffic? Daft. The Square, Spanish Arch and Docks are the three obvious and sensible locations.

The Spanish Arch? Strong winds. Possibility of massive tides. Possibility of flooding. Not an enjoyable experience for a consumer. Close Woodquay to traffic entering. But keep the road open towards GSC and Town Hall. Problem sorted. Now the council could pay a consultant to come up with that idea very handsomely indeed.

beardybrewer

Ffs, it's ireland. How hard can it be to grow grass? Eyre square is where it belongs.

flazio

flazio wrote: »

Could they get away with closing a car park for a while? Cathedral car park for example?

Leaving aside the massive inconvenience it would be to lose all them parking spaces at the busiest time of year its too off the beaten track. The market should be at the centre of things in Eyre Square.

I never say people get so worried over a bit of bloody grass.

bobbyss

No. Woodquay is definitely the best option. There is minimum disruption. Can't imagine many residents being inconvenienced as it's mainly businesses there. It's central. No grass to destroy for locals. And if don't want to buy any of the tat, just pop into one of the pubs there. Everyone is a winner.

Mrs OBumble

bobbyss wrote: »

Can't imagine many residents being inconvenienced as it's mainly businesses there.

Your imagination is limited, then.

As is your sense of whether visitors could find the place. In short, they can't. Very few tourists ever spotted down there. Wayyyy too far off the beaten track.

bobbyss

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Your imagination is limited, then.

As is your sense of whether visitors could find the place. In short, they can't. Very few tourists ever spotted down there. Wayyyy too far off the beaten track.

Aah Yes.
I am not great at Geography Mrs, but how far away is Woodquay from the Square than say the Docks? Not many tourists in Woodquay? I don't know. I have not seen any stats on that. But perhaps you are right Mrs I simply don't know.

A golden opportunity to bring in much needed guests then.

Possibly again you are right about tourists not being able to find the place. They probably are not able to find Quay street either but somehow manage. But yeah, better scrap that idea. Woodway probably would be impossible to find. Damm it, you are right!

ben.schlomo

bobbyss wrote: »

The Spanish Arch? Strong winds. Possibility of massive tides. Possibility of flooding. Not an enjoyable experience for a consumer. Close Woodquay to traffic entering. But keep the road open towards GSC and Town Hall. Problem sorted. Now the council could pay a consultant to come up with that idea very handsomely indeed.

Did you miss it being at the Arch last year? How can the consumer have any sense of a market if half of Woodquay is open to traffic? All inbound traffic on the Headford Rd would be funnelled through the Courthouse junction. What about access to shops in Woodquay, will tents be invisible so as not to block all the local shops? Consultant indeed.

bobbyss

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Did you miss it being at the Arch last year? How can the consumer have any sense of a market if half of Woodquay is open to traffic? All inbound traffic on the Headford Rd would be funnelled through the Courthouse junction. What about access to shops in Woodquay, will tents be invisible so as not to block all the local shops? Consultant indeed.

I don't agree ben. I was not at the Arch last year. Was it last year or before (I can't remember) that it was a God forsaken place that only the devil himself would be out in? Horrendous, by all accounts. I have no stats on how business was there but if it was wet, cold etc , it can't have been great. And based on that experience it clearly should never ever be there again.

I think my proposal should be given a trial. I think it's a damn good idea myself. Properly spaced tents, perhaps clustered in the middle leaving people free to browse for tat in the tents and meander into the shops/pubs may alleviate that. Tents therefore will not be invisible, as you are suggesting. But I don't really know. I am just posting a suggestion. I could be wrong and I could be right. I can't speak with authority on this as I am no expert in event management. I don't know anybody who is.

Some kind of fencing to evoke a market type atmosphere at the far end near the main road perhaps? Woodquay thus enclosed would be very atmospheric as there is a natural surround.

Regarding traffic. Please don't bite my nose off! This remains a problem and I don't have any substantial answers. But, as I said I am no expert me. Just a suggestion.

ben.schlomo

bobbyss wrote: »

I don't agree ben. I was not at the Arch last year. Was it last year or before (I can't remember) that it was a God forsaken place that only the devil himself would be out in? Horrendous, by all accounts. I have no stats on how business was there but if it was wet, cold etc , it can't have been great. And based on that experience it clearly should never ever be there again.

I think my proposal should be given a trial. I think it's a damn good idea myself. Properly spaced tents, perhaps clustered in the middle leaving people free to browse for tat in the tents and meander into the shops/pubs may alleviate that. Tents therefore will not be invisible, as you are suggesting. But I don't really know. I am just posting a suggestion. I could be wrong and I could be right. I can't speak with authority on this as I am no expert in event management. I don't know anybody who is.

Some kind of fencing to evoke a market type atmosphere at the far end near the main road perhaps? Woodquay thus enclosed would be very atmospheric as there is a natural surround.

Regarding traffic. Please don't bite my nose off! This remains a problem and I don't have any substantial answers. But, as I said I am no expert me. Just a suggestion.

Befuddled!

bobbyss

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Befuddled!

And you are befuddled because...?

Digital Solitude

bobbyss wrote: »

And you are befuddled because...?

You're basing your points off an experience you haven't experienced

bobbyss

Digital Solitude wrote: »

You're basing your points off an experience you haven't experienced

I think my post was very badly written or you misread it. Or both.

I don't need to be at the market to argue that if the S Arch was a washout then business would have been poor. Because the weather is unreliable it would be foolish to locate there again. I don't need to have been there in the driving rain and terrible winds to make that point.

pure.conya

Maya Old-fashioned Snag wrote: »

And reduce parking and residents parking significantly when we have the absolutely perfect place for a market already called Eyre Square?

Its this sort of thing that Eyre square was made for i.e. markets. An empty dark and boring Eyre square will be a significant black mark on Christmas in Galway if it happens.

As for spending money on over priced tosh, the only thing I ever bought in the market is a coffee and many many pints of beer in the beer tent I go there for the atmosphere and look forward to it every year.

You're absolutely right, except eyre square has repeatedly been proven to not be the perfect place for a market.

If you think there's an atmosphere in the beer tent worth spending money on well good luck to you, I know I don't and never will either because at the end of the day all it is is a temporary marquee setup in the freezing cold.

It's not like there's a shortage of comfortably warm bars all over the city

pure.conya

flazio wrote: »

Could they get away with closing a car park for a while? Cathedral car park for example?

Are you taking about the cathedral car park or the large council controlled car park that's so popular you can't get a space mon to Fri after 8.30/9am?

pure.conya

beardybrewer wrote: »

Ffs, it's ireland. How hard can it be to grow grass? Eyre square is where it belongs.

You'd imagine it would be simple but when people couldn't sit down and enjoy the square during the only 3 weeks of nice weather we had in June it's beyond a joke!

gordongekko

pure.conya wrote: »

You'd imagine it would be simple but when people couldn't sit down and enjoy the square during the only 3 weeks of nice weather we had in June it's beyond a joke!

Isnt that the whole problem. Just concrete over it and be done with it. Problem solved

MadYaker

The only time I actually set foot in eyre square is when the christmas market is on. It's the worst green area in the city, do i don't see why people are so distraught at the grass being wrecked for a few months after.

I love the market. Steins in the beer tent and pulled pork baps have become a christmas ritual for us.

pure.conya

MadYaker wrote: »

The only time I actually set foot in eyre square is when the christmas market is on. It's the worst green area in the city, do i don't see why people are so distraught at the grass being wrecked for a few months after.

I love the market. Steins in the beer tent and pulled pork baps have become a christmas ritual for us.

I don't get where people get off proclaiming for the rest of us that Eyre sq is not suitable for chilling out in during the summer. If some of you took the time to observe the square on a nice day you'd ask realise that a lot of people young and old like to soak up the sun or just chill on the grass on a reasonably nice day.

It's a frightfully common misconception that a damp tacky Christmas market consisting of predominantly non-local traders selling overpriced crap and a cold marquee selling "Steins" to the select few deserves the sq more than every single person that frequents or lives in the city for up to 6 months after

MadYaker

pure.conya wrote: »

I don't get where people get off proclaiming for the rest of us that Eyre sq is not suitable for chilling out in during the summer. If some of you took the time to observe the square on a nice day you'd ask realise that a lot of people young and old like to soak up the sun or just chill on the grass on a reasonably nice day.

It's a frightfully common misconception that a damp tacky Christmas market consisting of predominantly non-local traders selling overpriced crap and a cold marquee selling "Steins" to the select few deserves the sq more than every single person that frequents or lives in the city for up to 6 months after

I didn't proclaim any such thing. Where in my post did I say it wasn't suitable? I just said that there are nicer areas where people can relax and soak up the sun and you're less likely to have to listen to any annoying buskers or hobos.

It's not really tacky is it? The amusements in Salthill are tacky the market isn't really and I quite like the food.

I also didn't have to go through any selection process to be served a Stein in the beer tent, sure they won't let people in if it's full but they don't have a choice.

Wompa1

MadYaker wrote: »

where people can relax and soak up the sun and you're less likely to have to listen to any annoying buskers or hobos.
.

Ghastly business that!

thesandeman

Wompa1 wrote: »

Ghastly business that!

Yep. Piped music in a cold tent serving mass produced beer in winter=Good
People chilling out in the sun in their local park (or what's left of it) listening to buskers=Bad.

MadYaker

thesandeman wrote: »

Yep. Piped music in a cold tent serving mass produced beer in winter=Good
People chilling out in the sun in their local park (or what's left of it) listening to buskers=Bad.

Also not what I said, not even close. Why do people keep purposely misinterpreting my posts?

thesandeman

thesandeman wrote: »

Yep. Piped music in a cold tent serving mass produced beer in winter=Good
People chilling out in the sun in their local park (or what's left of it) listening to buskers=Bad.

I wouldn't say that the busker option is bad but I would much much prefer drinking beer in the beer tent, with christmas music and the great christmas atmosphere and craic than sitting in the sun in a park listening to buskers, being honest the second option I would find boring and never do it anyway.

Aside from using it for a handy shortcut at various times I would never go into eyre square if it wasn't for the christmas market.