I love Christmas.
Always have, always will.
I love everything about it – putting up the decorations, the smell of the Christmas tree, all the preparation, baking, wrapping presents, planning, etc. etc. I love it all!
It is the only time of the year that I actually like shopping.
We’ve been lucky enough to have been to Krakow in December and went to the wonderful weekend Christmas Market there – complete with snow!
We’ve also been to Paris in December and stumbled upon some lovely small Christmas markets there too!
Last year when I heard there was to be a Continental Christmas Market in Galway I was so excited. But then, you will remember, we had that weather! We didn’t get to go anywhere with the ice and snow, so I totally missed out on the market. So this year I was determined to get to it.
Last Sunday we were invited to go visit Mona & The Chef, so we decided we could travel over to Galway early and get to go to the market.
The weather was horrendous, but that didn’t deter us….. just wrapped up and off we went.
All I can say is the market is very disappointing!
There were sweet stalls that you see at every show. There were muffins galore, there were a couple of creperies, a few jewellery and knitwear stalls and that was it!
I know it is labelled as ‘Continental’ but there was such a poor show of ‘local’ produce. I have subsequently heard that the rental for a spot is very very high. I don’t know who makes the money from the event, but would it not make sense to have more stalls at a lower rent?
And guys you also need to do something about the way the pathways were flooding in that torrential rain!!!
It would have been so nice to have had local producers there.
The carousel was extremely popular and people did seem to be having fun on that, but again we thought at €5 per person it was expensive!
We bought a couple of crepes and left!
What are the Christmas markets in your area like? I’d travel! 🙂
A Year In Redwood 
I could not agree more with you Margaret. Very disappointing and expensive. One of the things that bothered me the most was the fact that there so few Irish producers there. Most likely because of the price to have a booth. We are sticking to our guns and buying Irish this year and every year. And, it was so nice to visit. Next time, hopefully not so rushed!
Mona,
I think I saw only 2 or 3 Irish producers! We are trying hard to do the same… sticking with local even if we can.
Margaret
I dont agree with you at all! but only because i don’t expect it to be anything other then it is – it is over priced rubbish, but it is magical when you walk into it without thinking how much everything costs – small children love it and so do I.
I will not buy a thing from there because I always buy Irish but it is a lovely day out and I’m sorry you were dissapointed
Hi Amee,
I am sure children would love it… and yes, I agree, there was a certain amount of ‘magic’ about it, certainly with the carousel. But I also feel parents would be under severe pressure to ‘buy’ when they have children with them.
Margaret
As someone who has a stall at farmers’ and some Christmas markets, I hate to hear stories like this. But I know what you’re talking about. I don’t do as many Christmas markets as I did two years ago but back then when I used to enquire about having a stall, I’d often be told it cost anywhere between €50 and €250! One particular Christmas market was so expensive that it only attracted people who sold mass-produced tat and my German friend (who went along because it was being sold as a German market) told me a lot of the stuff being sold there was bought from Aldi and Lidl. Sad…
Sharon,
The figure I heard for a stall in Galway is phenomenal…. I can well understand why producers would not take a slot. You would have to sell an awful lot of produce to recoup the cost.
And yes, there were stalls selling stuff that you see at every ‘gig’ in town.
I just expected a Christmas market to be somewhat different!
Margaret
Same over this side of country too Margaret, Naas has had ‘continental market’ for last two years, just pure rubbish and sadly overpriced and not even the kids liked it. Does take away from our farmers market too which is weekly all year and excellent but badly frequented unfortunatly
Jo,
I love the regular Saturday market in Galway – it is always a treat to go to it. So I guess I’ll be making sure any future trips to Galway will be on a Saturday!
Margaret