Christmas market

Whereisgalway · 18-11-2015 4:24pm #1

There nearly finished wrecking eyre square for the so called Continental Christmas Market. Have to say I am found of the mulled wine but will it be any differant to last year where it was all sub standard expensive food. What's the idea behind splitting it in two (more stall in spainish arch) Galway council been greedy again me thinks!!

Mrs OBumble · 18-11-2015 4:30pm

You do realise that the City Council don't run the market?

Can you tell us what you would like to see, instead of the "sub standard expensive food"?

biko · 18-11-2015 4:30pm

Well I for one am really looking forward to it, all of it.

Opens soon - Friday 20th November to Monday 21st December
http://galwaychristmasmarket.ie/ agus https://www.facebook.com/galwaychristmasmarket/

ben.schlomo · 18-11-2015 5:17pm

Whereisgalway wrote: »

There nearly finished wrecking eyre square for the so called Continental Christmas Market. Have to say I am found of the mulled wine but will it be any differant to last year where it was all sub standard expensive food. What's the idea behind splitting it in two (more stall in spainish arch) Galway council been greedy again me thinks!!

Thats your January Eyre Square sunbathing out the window then OP.

Why is it so called, are German beer, Pretzels, Gluhwein, Prague Chimney Cakes, Ornaments from Belarus and a bakery from France somehow not considered Continental now?

Notch000 · 18-11-2015 5:44pm

Don't forget the over priced sweet stands and the multiple charcoal grill sausage stands

ben.schlomo · 18-11-2015 5:47pm

Notch000 wrote: »

Don't forget the over priced sweet stands and the multiple charcoal grill sausage stands

Nobody forces the money from anyones hands, while a lot of whats there is tat and shouldnt be in a market there is also plenty to enjoy.

Mrs OBumble · 18-11-2015 6:23pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Nobody forces the money from anyones hands, while a lot of whats there is tat and shouldnt be in a market there is also plenty to enjoy.

Definition of a market pretty much includes that it sells tat.

If you want quality goods, head to BT or the like.

beardybrewer · 18-11-2015 6:59pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Can you tell us what you would like to see, instead of the "sub standard expensive food"?

Exactly, there is nothing sub-standard about corn dogs!

shenanagans · 18-11-2015 7:23pm

I have nothing against the xmas market but it's not suitable for Eyre Sq. The place is like a bog once the market is over. It take months for the green areas to recover. It should be relocated to the Spanish Arch area which would be more suitable.

flazio · 18-11-2015 8:04pm

shenanagans wrote: »

I have nothing against the xmas market but it's not suitable for Eyre Sq. The place is like a bog once the market is over. It take months for the green areas to recover. It should be relocated to the Spanish Arch area which would be more suitable.

Too exposed, when storms like Abigail and Barney hit you might find the stalls washed up in the docks after a week.

biko · 18-11-2015 8:05pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

If you want quality goods, head to BT.

British Telecom?

flazio · 18-11-2015 8:06pm

biko wrote: »

British Telecom?

Brown Thomas

jeffk · 18-11-2015 8:22pm

What's the story on the market?
Is it drive down from Dublin good?

Herself is mad to see it, we have done Belfast one, she seen the Dublin one then heard Waterford one isn't great.

Have planned a day trip this Monday, but curious is it another Dublin market, more food than Christmas

Thanks!

beardybrewer · 18-11-2015 8:29pm

Between the Xmas market, the usual market, and the Winter Wonderland that setup on the docks complete with ice rink Galway gets pretty festive. So yeah, I'd say it's worth a visit for the festively inclined.

Larianne · 18-11-2015 8:31pm

jeffk wrote: »

What's the story on the market?
Is it drive down from Dublin good?

Herself is mad to see it, we have done Belfast one, she seen the Dublin one then heard Waterford one isn't great.

Have planned a day trip this Monday, but curious is it another Dublin market, more food than Christmas

Thanks!

Not worth going out of your way for, from Dublin.

Laviski · 18-11-2015 8:34pm

shenanagans wrote: »

I have nothing against the xmas market but it's not suitable for Eyre Sq. The place is like a bog once the market is over. It take months for the green areas to recover. It should be relocated to the Spanish Arch area which would be more suitable.

totally agree.
as long the the green areas are restored for the first holiday after xmas (st patricks day thats 3 months folks) as this year it was the first since it started that the square looked decent albeit this was in May. before you say it takes time for the grass to grow etc. for the amount of money they are charging traders they should be buying it in and roll it out when they leave the square.

18-11-2015 8:48pm

Spanish Arch would be the worst place for it; it is completely unsheltered from wind and rain. If the weather continues like it has, it'll be a nightmare. Perhaps down the docks where Funderland has been.

Whereisgalway · 18-11-2015 9:28pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You do realise that the City Council don't run the market?

Can you tell us what you would like to see, instead of the "sub standard expensive food"?

So the city council don't make any money at all from the market?

CrowdedHouse · 18-11-2015 10:01pm

There is a bit of it at Spanish Arch this year

https://twitter.com/GalwayXmasMkt/status/666712330152099841

Anyway I wants Chimney Cakes

Whereisgalway · 18-11-2015 10:04pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You do realise that the City Council don't run the market?

Can you tell us what you would like to see, instead of the "sub standard expensive food"?

Milestone won a tender from the council to run it for a large fee. http://milestoneinventive.com/da/markets/galway-continental-christmas-market/

Any continental Christmas market across europe puts galways effort to shame

El_Dangeroso · 18-11-2015 10:46pm

Ah time for the annual whine about the Christmas market thread. Gets me in the festive mood!

I love the market, it transforms Eyre square into the wino and teenager-infested wasteland into something actually worth visiting. I have friends come up to visit every year and they feel the same.

It's a shame we're all forced by gunpoint to visit it though, think the organisers messed up a bit in that regard.

Das Kitty · 18-11-2015 11:56pm

Larianne wrote: »

Not worth going out of your way for, from Dublin.

No it's not.

But you have to remember the rest of Galway is here too, which is well worth 2 hours on the motorway.

Mrs OBumble · 19-11-2015 12:04am

flazio wrote: »

Brown Thomas

Biko probably still calls it Moons

beardybrewer wrote: »

Between the Xmas market, the usual market, and the Winter Wonderland that setup on the docks complete with ice rink Galway gets pretty festive. So yeah, I'd say it's worth a visit for the festively inclined.

Ice rink is going out in the grounds of Leisureland this year, according to today's GalwayIndo.

shenanagans wrote: »

I have nothing against the xmas market but it's not suitable for Eyre Sq. The place is like a bog once the market is over. It take months for the green areas to recover.

A bog with great big tarmac paths thru the middle of it!

Whereisgalway · 19-11-2015 12:26am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Biko probably still calls it Moons

Ice rink is going out in the grounds of Leisureland this year, according to today's GalwayIndo.

A bog with great big tarmac paths thru the middle of it!

Surely with the amount of money Galway council make from market they could do a better n faster job fixing it up. After all It is a PUBLIC park

19-11-2015 1:17pm

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Ah time for the annual whine about the Christmas market thread. Gets me in the festive mood!

I love the market, it transforms Eyre square into the wino and teenager-infested wasteland into something actually worth visiting. I have friends come up to visit every year and they feel the same.

It's a shame we're all forced by gunpoint to visit it though, think the organisers messed up a bit in that regard.

It should be moved away from anywhere that has a lot of grass, unless they cover the grass completely in some form of temporary foundation. There's no denying that it turns to a muddy nightmare towards the end of the market, which then leave Eyre Square an absolute eyesore for weeks afterwards, with everything worn down and muddy.

El_Dangeroso · 19-11-2015 1:30pm

Deleted User wrote: »

It should be moved away from anywhere that has a lot of grass, unless they cover the grass completely in some form of temporary foundation. There's no denying that it turns to a muddy nightmare towards the end of the market, which then leave Eyre Square an absolute eyesore for weeks afterwards, with everything worn down and muddy.

Some grass gets muddy, big deal, I don't care and I'd say most people don't either. Eyre square is grim in January, grass or no grass.

Mrs OBumble · 19-11-2015 1:46pm

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Some grass gets muddy, big deal, I don't care and I'd say most people don't either. Eyre square is grim in January, grass or no grass.

This.

The ONLY function that Eyre Square has in January is as a place to walk thru when going between Shop St / Merchant's Rd and the bus station / Fibbers etc. The paths are always left in a condition which makes this totally possible.

Last year, they did eventually put down rolls of grass imported from elsewhere, after attempts to re-grow it from seed failed (because the birds ate all the seeds, I suspect). Likely that they've learned from the experience that this is the only way.

(Imagine what it would do the to grass if someone who's been granted Freedom of the City really did bring their sheep in to pasture there!)

jeffk · 19-11-2015 2:46pm

Das Kitty wrote: »

No it's not.

But you have to remember the rest of Galway is here too, which is well worth 2 hours on the motorway.

Been down to see Galway a few times(LOI matches/weekend/day trips).

Its a shame the hotels are silly money/"city centre" aka 15 minutes walk or €20 parking on top of hotel(she doesn't like guesthouse/B&B, stayed in the Lighthouse down there was enough for her)

ceatharloch · 19-11-2015 2:48pm

On a particular topic in the Christmas Market: Its a pity the transition was made from

{Bratwurst, Frankfurters, Bockwurst, etc.}

in the first few years of the market to the all-encompassing

{small hot dogs, large hot dogs}

in recent years. Not alone does the latter give little choice - it is completely American, versus the authentic German sausages that used to be there. Will there be any genuine choice of German sausages this year?

Whereisgalway · 19-11-2015 3:44pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

This.

The ONLY function that Eyre Square has in January is as a place to walk thru when going between Shop St / Merchant's Rd and the bus station / Fibbers etc. The paths are always left in a condition which makes this totally possible.

Last year, they did eventually put down rolls of grass imported from elsewhere, after attempts to re-grow it from seed failed (because the birds ate all the seeds, I suspect). Likely that they've learned from the experience that this is the only way.

(Imagine what it would do the to grass if someone who's been granted Freedom of the City really did bring their sheep in to pasture there!)

Tourists arrive in Galway also in January and the first think they see is a torn up main square that's meant to be for the public. Not going to do its 2020 bid much help looking like it did last year.

Let's hope the market is better this year, even though Galway council alway amaze me with their greed and stupidity (cheaper to use grass seed but not intelligent enough to know birds love the stuff)

Links234 · 19-11-2015 4:39pm

ceatharloch wrote: »

in recent years. Not alone does the latter give little choice - it is completely American, versus the authentic German sausages that used to be there. Will there be any genuine choice of German sausages this year?

Doubtful. As I understand it, it was a completely different company who did it the first year, so that's why you don't have any proper authentic stuff. The first year was absolutely fantastic.

GekkePrutser · 19-11-2015 4:59pm

ceatharloch wrote: »

On a particular topic in the Christmas Market: Its a pity the transition was made from

{Bratwurst, Frankfurters, Bockwurst, etc.}

in the first few years of the market to the all-encompassing

{small hot dogs, large hot dogs}

in recent years. Not alone does the latter give little choice - it is completely American, versus the authentic German sausages that used to be there. Will there be any genuine choice of German sausages this year?

Yeah I'm totally missing those too. The German sausages were great, especially the Krakauers. The hot dogs are not worth the price IMO. I think they only had the real ones the first year.

I think it's because most vendors are from the UK and of course Ireland now. The first year there were more vendors from continental Europe. Not saying that's bad but it does make it less 'continental'.

I was talking to a Dutch stall owner at the time and he said he would not be coming back as there was more money to be made on German markets. I suppose with it being the first year, and the recession in full swing the uptake was low and it put some vendors off.

beardybrewer · 19-11-2015 5:09pm

Funny, I was just asking where to find german sausages in the where to find thread. Odd the obvious demand and long shelf-life that two german grocers don't import bratwurst anymore.

Joachim in the market has the real thing.

Mrs OBumble · 19-11-2015 5:54pm

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Tourists arrive in Galway also in January and the first think they see is a torn up main square that's meant to be for the public. Not going to do its 20/20 bid much help looking like it did last year.

2020 != Tidy Towns (thank goodness!)

Whereisgalway · 19-11-2015 8:03pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

20/20 != Tidy Towns (thank goodness!)

Childish and immature response

archieknox · 19-11-2015 8:20pm

Definitely the Winterval Xmas extravaganza in Waterford is well worth a visit. There is something for everyone not just the kids, the whole city comes alive from the Friday to Sunday on each weekend between here and Xmas which it runs on. The Waterford City and County Council deserve great credit for the organising of such a wonderful successful event every year. It brings thousands of visitors to the city each year helping to boost the local economy along with giving the place a much needed positive feedback for future tourists to visit the country's oldest city.

Larianne · 19-11-2015 11:53pm

Das Kitty wrote: »

No it's not.

But you have to remember the rest of Galway is here too, which is well worth 2 hours on the motorway.

Ssssh! All these blown-ins will come and want to stay. Can't be having that!

TerrorFirmer · 19-11-2015 11:56pm

Larianne wrote: »

Ssssh! All these blown-ins will come and want to stay. Can't be having that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn7zOngJpwk

Das Kitty · 20-11-2015 1:08am

Larianne wrote: »

Ssssh! All these blown-ins will come and want to stay. Can't be having that!

20-11-2015 12:23pm

Eyre square is pretty much the prefect place for it and it really transforms Galway into a more Christmassy place. Who gives a fiddlers about the grass.

As for what's in the market, once the beer tent is there that's the important one

biko · 20-11-2015 12:51pm

Pic stolen from someone on facebuke, who in turn stole it from their site

joeKel73 · 20-11-2015 1:19pm

biko wrote: »

Pic stolen from someone on facebuke, who in turn stole it from their site

Photo by Michael Dillon.

Mrs OBumble · 20-11-2015 1:36pm

Sienna Wooden Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Eyre square is pretty much the prefect place for it and it really transforms Galway into a more Christmassy place. Who gives a fiddlers about the grass.

Apparently some people think that good looking grass is an indicator of culture. I'm still scratching my head about the link myself, I've always thought that time spent mowing grass could be put to pretty much any more productive use, but there ya go.

Personally I'm more of a mulled-wine tent woman. Will be interesting to see how it goes down at the Arch - granted there is an association between it and wine, but usually it's a cheaper variety there!

Market official opening at 6pm tonight. Lots of people working hard quite late yesterday evening getting it all into place.

LoonyLovegood · 20-11-2015 6:02pm

Heading down in a bit to see it, I'm looking forward to my annual corn dog.

Whereisgalway · 20-11-2015 6:13pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

, I've always thought that time spent mowing grass could be put to pretty much any more productive use, but there ya go.

That is very condescending and childish. Have reported

xtradel · 20-11-2015 6:23pm

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Childish and immature response

Whereisgalway wrote: »

That is very condescending and childish. Have reported

Have you an issue with Mrs O?

Your posts are far from Mature :rolleyes:

ben.schlomo · 20-11-2015 6:24pm

Whereisgalway wrote: »

That is very condescending and childish. Have reported

That deserves a large stein of lol.

ben.schlomo · 20-11-2015 8:39pm

Had a walk around both of them there. The Black Forest Bar at the Arch is nice,but there's next to no alcohol in any of the warm drinks we had. To be honest the rest of both locations is fairly sh1te, must be at least ten sausage grills, duplicate tat stalls at both and no French bakery.

jeffk · 20-11-2015 10:01pm

Likely off topic but

Thinking of using q-park for the €8 for 8 hours price.

Is this the best option for location/price?

speakelton · 20-11-2015 10:46pm

Correct me if I'm wrong but is that pic not from last year? The only reason I'm asking is because I thought they took a load of the tents from eyre Sq to Spanish arch, Quay Street etc... With the intention of protecting the wonderfully cultural Galway grass of eyre Sq.

That said I haven't been in yet so I don't know myself

joeKel73 · 20-11-2015 10:49pm

No macaroons, no corn dogs and FIVE identical grills (small/large hotdogs or burger)...

In better news, the Chimney Cake stand is back, just not open yet.

Also the new beer tent looks awful, very open and packed. The new beer hall down at the Spanish Arch is great though, no steins but a few nice beers on tap.

Christmas market

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